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Asian Voice |24th December 2016
ISIS terrorist's threats to city councillor who testified against him A Birmingham Muslim councillor has stepped up security after receiving chilling threats from terrorist Humza Ali after giving evidence against him at court. Hodge Hill councillor Majid Mahmood has feared for his and his family’s safety after agreeing to appear as a prosecution witness in the case at Birmingham Crown Court. The Labour council cabinet member was even warned to avoid public appearances. And council bosses have provided him with extra security during recent public meetings - including Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. The court heard that Mr Mahmood, who is also a solicitor, was sent a series of threatening and abusive messages by Ali via social media sites WhatsApp and Facebook. One in Urdu and English
Labour Councillor for Hodge Hill, Majid Mahmood.
read: “Watch out. You nonbeliever. Rot in hell you pig.” In another, sent during the 2015 general election campaign, he was told: “You should leave democracy and accept Islam”. The abuse peaked around the 2015 and 2016 spring elections when Cllr Mahmood was out campaigning in the community. Now following the case,
Mr Mahmood said: “This has been a very harrowing time for myself and my family. I would like to place on record my thanks to West Midlands Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, my family, friends and the Labour Party for their support especially during the last few weeks of the trial.” And in a mes- Humza Ali (top right), Mohammed Ali Ahmed (bottom left), Gabriel Rasmus (front row, sage to the wider second left) and Abdelatif Gaini city he said: (front row, second right) “Humza Ali is not in their fight against radicalirepresentative of the Muslim sation on all fronts. I would community in Birmingham. therefore appeal to anyone in His views are not condoned or the community who is aware supported by the vast majoriof someone who may have ty of Muslims. All of us have a been radicalised to speak to duty, indeed a responsibility the police immediately.” to work with the police to help
Solihull dad 'killed by single punch as he broke up fight' on Costa del Sol A Solihull dad-of-four has died after allegedly being killed by a single punch as he tried to break up a fight on the Costa del Sol. Holidaymaker Nadeem Aslam died of head injuries after the alleged attack in the resort of Fuengirola at around 11.30pm on Thursday, December 8. Reports in the Spanish press said the 42-year-old businessman had been drinking in an ex-pats pub with wife Jayne before walking with friends to get some takeaway food. Eyewitnesses say
one of his friends was then involved in a bust-up with two Polish men. As Mr Aslam tried to break up the fight, it’s claimed he was knocked to the floor by a single punch, hitting his head on the pavement. Paramedics battled for 45 minutes to try and revive him but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The alleged attacker was understood to have fled the scene before later handing himself in to Spanish police. A 34-year-old remains in custody in Malaga. Witness Paolo Mortoni, a
Pupils hold protest after three children are run over outside school
Pupils from Sudbury Primary School held a protest
(Pic: Adam Tiernan Thomas)
Young pupils in Sudbury formed a “walking bus” to urge motorists to drive slower after three children were run-over outside their primary school last month. They were taken to a central London hospital where they were treated for their injuries which are said not to be life-threatening or lifechanging. Staff led 930 pupils from Sudbury Primary School in Watford Road, on the mile-long protest to raise awareness of traffic dangers. They formed their walking bus exactly two
weeks after two pupils and their toddler brother was hit by a car on November 25 at 3.30pm. The pupils showed their handmade posters with warnings including “Aggressive is not Impressive”, “Slower Speeds = Happy People”, “Slow Down for a Happy Town” and “Do Not Crash Car” to motorists as they drove past. The day was given to a road awareness campaign with two assemblies in the afternoon, to encourage children to encourage their own parents not to drive to school.
British expat, told local newspaper The Olive Press that Mr Aslam and his wife were making their second trip to the resort this year. “They had been over in the summer for a holiday and had come back to unwind before he opened up his new waffle shop in Birmingham. We had all had a fair bit to drink in the Seaside Bar in the centre of Fuengirola and then Aslam, his wife and another couple from Birmingham went off to find some food,” he said. Mr Aslam’s four children, aged between 14 and 22, are
Nadeem Aslam who died whilst on holiday
now understood to have joined their devastated mother in Spain. They were expected to return to the UK with their father’s body this week.
Alum Rock rapist jailed for 19 years for sickening attack on teenage babysitter A Birmingham rapist was caught after his brave teenage victim made a “secret” mobile phone call to police during the attack. Rashid Ulhaqdad, 35, has been jailed for 19 years after travelling 100 miles to Liverpool to carry out the sickening assault on the 17year-old. But the serial sex attacker was caught after the victim dialed police while he was in her home. Ulhaqdad, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court last Rashid Ulhaqdad was jailed for Monday. This included a five- raping and assaulting a woman year extended sentence after in Birkenhead the judge ruled he posed a sigOn hearing police arrive, nificant risk of harm after she told her attacker to leave hearing he had previously by the back door - but then let attacked other women. in the officers, who ran in and The court heard he met caught him. the teenager after previously Ulhaqdad pleaded guilty delivering food to her home. to three rape offences, two They had exchanged numbers sexual assaults, assault and and arranged to meet at a relbreaching an order preventative’s home where she was ing him from arranging to babysitting her nephew. But meet women using his phone. he hit the victim with an He was also ordered to sign empty bottle moments after the Sex Offenders Register for she put her nephew to bed life. before threatening to kill her. Judge Robert Warnock She was raped three times described the rapist as a during her ordeal but man“predatory sex offender” as he aged to dial police. jailed him.
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In Brief
Bank raiders jailed for more than 20 years over armed holdups
Abdul Ghaffar
David Russell
Two armed robbers have been jailed after carrying out terrifying bank raids across Birmingham, which saw staff and customers threatened with an imitation gun. Abdul Ghaffar was sentenced to nineand-a-half years after pleading guilty to three bank robberies and three counts of possessing an imitation firearm. His accomplice in the second robbery David Russell was sentenced to 11 years after being found guilty. Birmingham Crown Court heard Ghaffar, 26, first targeted a busy Barclays bank on Washwood Heath Road when he burst into the branch wearing a balaclava on May 19. He threatened a cashier with an imitation handgun, and ordered her to hand over money, before escaping in a taxi. The second raid took place at Lloyds Bank on Bordesley Green Road on May 26.
Funds raised for funeral for Syrian man stabbed in Birmingham
Friends of a 23year-old man stabbed to death at the weekend are raising funds for his Ibrahim funeral. Ismail was found outside the Raxo Ibrahim Ismail shisha lounge on Moseley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, in the early hours of Saturday. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. A post-mortem examination revealed he had stab wounds to his chest and back. Police said they were investigating reports there had been an "altercation" beforehand.
Detectives granted extension in questioning terror suspects
Detectives have been given a further extension to the amount of time they are allowed to hold and question six terrorism suspects. Four men from Derby, a man from Burton upon Trent and a woman from London were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act last week. The North East Counter Terrorism Unit was later granted more time to question the six people. A further extension means the suspects can now be held until Boxing Day. The four men from Derby are aged 22, 27, 35 and 36. The suspect from Burton upon Trent is aged 27 and the woman from London is 32. Sources said the investigation was into a group believed to be working towards an attack, although a strike was not thought to be imminent.