According to the BBC, an Islamic extremist who came to the UK seeking asylum has been sentenced to prison for backing the terrorist organisation Islamic State. Hakan Barac, a 28-year-old Turkish national from Commercial Road, Newport, shared videos on social media that praised terrorists Osama bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

He pleaded guilty to five charges involving the online distribution of terrorist materials and one charge of supporting a banned organisation. Barac received a sentence of three years and nine months at Bristol Crown Court and will be referred to authorities for possible deportation. Barac, who arrived in the country two years ago, was apprehended by counter-terrorism police last year.

He shared videos on social media platforms like Instagram and Telegram that depicted jihadists getting ready for martyrdom and included Saudi-born Canadian recruiter Mohammed Khalifa, as stated in court.

Ben Lloyd, the prosecutor, described additional material as “extreme” and showing graphic violence. “It was clear that a significant number of followers of his accounts were drawn to extreme Islamic topics,” he stated. Tim Forte KC, supporting, said Barac had pleaded guilty on the basis that there was “no intention to assist or encourage” and the posts had only been seen by a small number of people.

Repugnant language

However, while issuing a 45-month sentence, Judge Martin Picton remarked that Barac had disseminated material that glorified “violent terrorism”. “The dissemination of material of this kind has the clear potential to be supportive of such activity,” he stated.

“It is apparent from your own use of social media that you have a mindset that is aligned with that ideology. The pattern of terrorist activity in modern times demonstrates the potential for individuals to be encouraged by material they see posted on social media so as to carry out acts of violence.”

He also said:

“You are here seeking asylum, but at the same time choose to disseminate material that strikes at the very heart of our democratic society. For you to behave in that way when seeking refuge in this country is very difficult to understand and must seem utterly unacceptable to right-thinking people.”

Det Ch Insp Leanne Williams, from Counter Terrorism Policing Wales, stated: “Without any doubt, Hakan Barac is a dangerous individual. Barac clearly expressed his support for the Islamic State, and it was our absolute priority to ensure the public was protected from him and the abhorrent rhetoric he espoused.”