Good Muslim?
I hope the Rochdale councillor, Shakil Ahmed, is reflecting on his knee-jerk reaction to the news that his son, Waheed, had been arrested on the Turkish border for trying to enter Syria and lend his support to the Islamic State (IS).
Now I don't regard anyone whip supports this murderous gang as a 'good Muslim' and such ignorant comments will only throw fuel on the fire as they encourage young British Muslims to see themselves as 'freedom fighters' rather than supporters of a fascists religious regime.
Rochdale councillor's son arrested after being held near Syrian border
Waheed Ahmed, son of Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed, arrested on arrival at Birmingham airport after being detained in Turkey while allegedly trying to enter Syria
Rochdale councillor's son arrested after being held near Syrian border
Waheed Ahmed, son of Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed, arrested on arrival at Birmingham airport after being detained in Turkey while allegedly trying to enter Syria
Greater Manchester police said a 21-year-old man had been ‘arrested on suspicion of CPI Section 40 (1) (b) TACT 2000 (Commission, Preparation or Instigation of Acts of Terrorism) at Birmingham airport’. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian
By Josh Halliday - The Guardian
The 21-year-old son of a Labour councillor has been arrested by UK counter-terrorism police at Birmingham airport after being seized in Turkey with eight relatives allegedly trying to enter Syria.
University student Waheed Ahmed was stopped by Turkish authorities near the Syrian border on 1 April.
The group of nine Britons, who are all from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, include five adults and four children ranging from a year-old baby to an 11-year-old.
Ahmed was deported from Turkey on Monday night and arrested by counter-terrorism officers as his flight landed at Birmingham airport in the early hours of Tuesday.
A Greater Manchester police spokesman said officers were “working to ensure the safe return of eight other people to the UK”.
He added: “In the early hours of Tuesday 14 April 2015, a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of CPI Section 40 (1) (b) TACT 2000 (Commission, Preparation or Instigation of Acts of Terrorism) at Birmingham airport.
“A few hours earlier, on Monday 13 April 2015, a 31-year-old man was arrested for the same offence in the Rochdale area.”
The student’s father, Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed – who has been pictured with party leader Ed Miliband – previously said he wanted his son “to come home as soon as possible”.
Ahmed, who sits on Rochdale borough council, thought his son had been in Birmingham on a work placement when he discovered that he had been detained in Turkey.
Police searched the councillor’s home this month for clues about why Waheed Ahmed had travelled to the country.
In a statement, the councillor said: “My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don’t understand what he’s doing there.
“If I thought for a second that he was in danger of being radicalised, I would have reported him to the authorities.
“He’s studying a degree in politics and sociology at Manchester University and has a good future ahead of him.”
By Josh Halliday - The Guardian
The 21-year-old son of a Labour councillor has been arrested by UK counter-terrorism police at Birmingham airport after being seized in Turkey with eight relatives allegedly trying to enter Syria.
University student Waheed Ahmed was stopped by Turkish authorities near the Syrian border on 1 April.
The group of nine Britons, who are all from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, include five adults and four children ranging from a year-old baby to an 11-year-old.
Ahmed was deported from Turkey on Monday night and arrested by counter-terrorism officers as his flight landed at Birmingham airport in the early hours of Tuesday.
A Greater Manchester police spokesman said officers were “working to ensure the safe return of eight other people to the UK”.
He added: “In the early hours of Tuesday 14 April 2015, a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of CPI Section 40 (1) (b) TACT 2000 (Commission, Preparation or Instigation of Acts of Terrorism) at Birmingham airport.
“A few hours earlier, on Monday 13 April 2015, a 31-year-old man was arrested for the same offence in the Rochdale area.”
The student’s father, Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed – who has been pictured with party leader Ed Miliband – previously said he wanted his son “to come home as soon as possible”.
Ahmed, who sits on Rochdale borough council, thought his son had been in Birmingham on a work placement when he discovered that he had been detained in Turkey.
Police searched the councillor’s home this month for clues about why Waheed Ahmed had travelled to the country.
In a statement, the councillor said: “My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don’t understand what he’s doing there.
“If I thought for a second that he was in danger of being radicalised, I would have reported him to the authorities.
“He’s studying a degree in politics and sociology at Manchester University and has a good future ahead of him.”
