R v. Shazib Khan

Court	Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, Great Britain (UK)
Case number	T20167057
Decision title	Jury Verdict
Decision date	1 April 2016
Parties	United Kingdom Shazib Ahmed Khan
Categories	Terrorism
Keywords	Attempted Travel, Foreign fighters, Islamic State, Preparatory Acts, Terrorism

Summary

Mr. Shazib Khan was found guilty by a jury verdict for planning to travel to Syria and join Islamic State in Levant, a terrorist organisation. In preparation for the travel, Mr. Khan had purchased items for use in Syria and he had also expressed his desire for martyrdom to others who had previously joined ISIL. His case was heard alongside that of his older nephew, Mr. Junead Khan, and he was later sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment.

Procedural history

Mr. Khan was arrested with his older nephew, Mr. Junead Khan, on 14 July 2015.

Mr. Khan’s trial was conducted alongside that of his nephew and lasted for approximately six weeks.

Related developments

Mr. Khan was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment as well as an extended licence period of 5 years on 13 May 2016.

Legally relevant facts

Mr. Khan, with his nephew Mr. Junead Khan, had intended to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State in Levant (ISIL) at differing points throughout August 2014 and their arrest in July 2015. Mr. Khan had started preparing for the trip and had purchased various items for this travel, including a rucksack, gloves and combat trousers. He had also spoken with individuals who had already joined ISIL “in which he had set out his aspiration to join them and to ‘seek shahada’ (martyrdom)”.

Core legal questions

Which conduct can be constitutive of preparatory terrorist acts under UK law?

Specific legal rules and provisions

Section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006 (UK)

Court's holding and analysis

Mr. Khan was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict of engaging in one count of conduct in preparation of terrorist acts on 1 April 2016. This verdict related to his desire to travel to Syria and join ISIL.