• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

UK

Judges reject terror offender’s challenge of early release ban

Judges reject terror offender’s challenge of early release ban
Newsexplored
30th July 2020
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
3
Mohammed Zahir KhanImage copyright Counter-Terrorism Policing North East
Image caption Mohammed Zahir Khan had expected to leave jail in March

An attempt by terrorism offender Mohammed Zahir Khan to overturn a ban on early release from prison has been thrown out by the High Court.

Two judges said Parliament had been right to end automatic release halfway through a sentence.

The new rules were rushed through after two terror attacks by released offenders.

The High Court judges said the changes had been a “logical and rational” response to the threat.

The ruling means that approximately 50 serving prisoners will be kept inside for longer.

Until this year, anyone convicted of a terrorism offence who was not on a life sentence could expect to be automatically released at the halfway point of their jail time.

They would then serve the rest of the sentence under conditions and monitoring in the community – including restrictions on where they could go and who they could meet.

Offenders jailed for more than two years must now serve at least two-thirds of the time inside before they can be considered for release – but only if the Parole Board says that they are safe to be let out.

Those changes followed two separate attacks by former prisoners.

Last November, Usman Khan, who had been released at the halfway point of his 16-year sentence, killed Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt, two prisoner rehabilitation volunteers, at London Bridge.

Then in February, Suddesh Amman attacked and stabbed people in south London, days after he left jail.

data-ad-format="auto">

The changes to how releases should be managed applied to all serving prisoners – and immediately blocked the release of Mohammed Zahir Khan who had been expecting to come out on 1 March.

The former shopkeeper from Sunderland had admitted encouraging terrorism, disseminating a terrorist publication and stirring up racial hatred against Shia Muslims, a minority group targeted by extremists.

Khan, jailed in 2018 for four and a half years, must now wait until at least November before he can be possibly released.

He challenged the new rules, arguing they were discriminatory and unjust because they changed the nature of the sentence he had been given in court.


What are the rules for releasing terror offenders?

Why do some prisoners serve only half their sentence inside?

But rejecting the challenge, two High Court judges concluded that Parliament had not breached Khan’s human rights.

‘Entirely legitimate response’

Mr Justice Garnham said: “In our judgment, it is impossible sensibly to regard a terrorist offender as in an analogous position to an ordinary offender.

“The nature of the offending is different, the need for punishment is different, the way the offenders have to be managed in custody is different, the risks they pose on release into the community are different.

“Faced with the real and immediate threats to public safety demonstrated by the attacks of November 2019 and February 2020, altering arrangements for the early release of terrorist prisoners was a logical and rational response.

“The offending in issue was especially grave, involving as it did random knife attacks on innocent bystanders causing fatal injuries.

“Keeping terrorist prisoners in custody for a longer proportion of their sentence, and requiring Parole Board approval before early release, was an entirely legitimate response.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Our new laws protect the public by keeping terrorists off our streets for longer and we welcome this ruling.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said “common sense has prevailed”.

“Let’s be clear, a terrorist who is a threat to public safety should not be free to walk our streets,” she said.

“I’m relieved, as will be the people of Sunderland.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemschallengeearlyjudgesoffenderrejectreleaseterror
UK
30th July 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemschallengeearlyjudgesoffenderrejectreleaseterror

More in UK

  • Read More
    Scotland’s papers: Army leads vaccine rollout and ‘patchy supplies’

    Views:3 Daily Record The Herald The Scotsman The Scottish Sun The National The Times Daily Mail Daily...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    Sri Lanka v England: Tourists win first Test by seven wickets

    Views:3 Dan Lawrence scored 94 runs and Jonny Bairstow 82 in the match First Test, Galle (day...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    Brexit: ‘Putting UK, not GB, delayed my fish for 24 hours’

    Views:3 By Lucy HookerBusiness reporter, BBC News Published duration4 hours ago Share Share page linkCopy link About...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: ‘Hope in the post’ as ‘5 million more offered jab’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionCovid vaccination progress leads Monday’s front pages, as over-70s and clinically extremely...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    Sutton Hoo: The Anglo Saxon treasures that inspired The Dig starring Ralph Fiennes

    Views:3 image copyrightNetflix image captionCarey Mulligan as Sutton Hoo landowner Edith Pretty with Ralph Fiennes as archaeologist...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: ‘Quarantine hotels’ and jab for over-18s ‘by June’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionSunday’s front pages include details of the government’s plans for Covid vaccinations...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    Scotland’s papers: UK shuts borders and vaccine ‘wastage’ concerns

    Views:3 image captionThe Times reports that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suspended all of Britain’s quarantine-free travel...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    Aerial photos capture ‘tree of life’ structures in Norfolk and Suffolk

    Views:3 By Martin BarberBBC News, East image copyrightMike Page image captionThe ‘trees’ are created in the mudflats...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    Covid-19: Is Northern Ireland winning the battle against the virus?

    Views:3 By Eunan McConvilleBBC News NI image copyrightGetty Images The coronavirus pandemic has brought with it an...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: ‘Fortress Britain’ and ‘modern miracle workers’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionA decision to close all travel corridors to the UK from Monday...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Will mass community testing be offered across Wales?

    Views:3 image copyrightGetty Images image captionHundreds queued around the leisure centre in Merthyr Tydfil to get tested...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
  • Read More
    Belfast Multi-Cultural Association fire ‘was deliberate hate crime’

    Views:3 media captionThe Belfast Multi-Cultural Association was working to serve the community, says Muhammed Atif Police have...

    Newsexplored 30th July 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • New coronavirus variant: What do we know?
    UK20th December 2020
  • Trump pardons two convicted by Russia investigation
    USA23rd December 2020
  • Kieran Trippier suspended for 10 weeks over breaches of betting rules
    Sports23rd December 2020
  • The Papers: UK and EU on ‘verge’ of Brexit trade deal
    UK23rd December 2020
  • Trump impeachment: When will he go on trial in the Senate?
    USA16th January 2021
  • Joe Biden unveils $1.9tn US economic relief package
    USA15th January 2021
  • How much can Joe Biden get done on the US economy?
    USA14th January 2021
  • Could Liz Cheney spark a revolt?
    USA13th January 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Argos axes its catalogue after 48 years
Holiday firm Tui to shut 166 High Street shops
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok