Jihadist who missed moisturiser and toilet roll is 'most violent extremist to return to Britain'
Bodybuilder Imran Khawaja, a leading figure of Isil-link terror group and nicknamed 'Barbie', sentenced after faking own death
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3:46PM GMT 06 Feb 2015
The British frontman of a Syrian terror group is one of the most violent extremists to ever return to the UK, prosecutors said as he was jailed for 12 years.
Jihadist Imran Khawaja was the poster boy for Rayat al–Tawheed (RAT), which is linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and appeared in “deeply disturbing” videos, including one where he held a severed head.
His actions defied “civilised understanding” and he would “stop at nothing to spread terror”, a senior terrorism prosecutor said.
He was a fully trained terrorist when he faked his own death to try and slip back in to the UK last year, a judge warned.
It is believed he was only returning to raise extra funds and recruit others to go back to Syria with him.
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Speaking after the sentencing, Deborah Walsh, Deputy Head of Counter Terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Imran Khawaja's actions are one of the most appalling examples of violent extremism that I have seen committed by British jihadis returning from Syria.
"Photos and videos of Khawaja posing with child soldiers and severed heads defy the understanding of civilised people and paint a picture of a man who would stop at nothing to spread terror and hatred.”
It had emerged that bodybuilder Khawaja, 27, was nicknamed “Barbie” and, while in Syria had complained of not having moisturiser and toilet paper.
But sentencing him at Woolwich Crown Court, Mr Justice Baker said Khawaja was a dangerous man who posed a “significant risk” to the UK having completed “an extensive period of terrorist training”.
He also dismissed a last ditch bid by Khawaja to lessen his sentence in a letter to the court in which he apologised, said he had nightmares about Syria and urged others not to make the same mistake.
But Mr Justice Baker said: “I am satisfied that your return to the UK was not for the reason which you now suggest or any other innocent reason, namely out of concern for your family and/or because you have become disenchanted with the cause of the Islamic State."
The judge described him as a "willing and enthusiastic" participant in recruitment films by RAT which included posing with severed heads, dead fighters and child soldiers while in Syria during the first six months of last year.
In June, Khawaja and his group faked his death with messages on social media so he could try and slip back to the UK undetected.
His cousin Tahir Bhatti drove to Bulgaria to pick him up but the pair were stopped at Dover and arrested.
Khawaja, of Southall, Middlesex, had previously pleaded guilty to preparation of acts of terror, attending a terrorist training camp and weapons training, and possession of an article for terrorist purposes.
He was handed a 17-year extended sentence. That comprises of a 12-year prison term, of which he will serve a minimum of eight years, and an extended period of licence in the community of a further five years.
Bhatti, 45, of Watford, Herts, who had admitted assisting an offender, was jailed for 21 months.
A third defendant, Asim Ali, 33, of Ealing, west London, who had admitted funding terror after giving Khawaja £300 for Syria, was also jailed for 21 months.
