A mother of five from Wembley who encouraged UK terror attacks on a pro-ISIS Facebook group was spared jail after a judge took pity on her children's “suffering”.

Farhana Ahmed, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of encouraging terrorism and three counts of disseminating a terrorist publication at the Old Bailey on Monday (November 6).

The west London resident, of Lansbury Close, was arrested and charged in 2015 after posting Islamic State propaganda on a Facebook group called Power Strangers.

Ahmed had been in custody since being charged two years ago, while her family - aged between six and 16 - were cared for by relatives.

On Tuesday (November 7), the defendant was spared jail after a judge was moved by the “suffering” of her children and said “the sooner you are returned to your children, the better.”

Calling it an “exceptional case”, Judge Christopher Moss QC sentenced Ahmed to a suspended term of two years after reading a heartfelt letter from her eldest son.

During the trial, the court heard how the 40-year-old had been a “prolific” contributor to the Facebook group , which had 1,406 members and described itself as a “pro-IS group”.

Using the fake name Kay Adams, Ahmed encouraged terrorism on the social media site at various points between September and November 2015.

According to prosecutor Ben Lloyd, her postings included a speech by an IS spokesman and a link to an online library of terrorist publications.

He told the Old Bailey: “It is clear from the defendant's decision to join this group, and then by virtue of the material she posted, that she shared the group's ideology and aims.”

The posts, in which she expressed the approval of the Paris terror attacks, had attracted a large number of followers on Facebook.

Ahmed, a British national, travelled to Turkey with her husband Muhammed Burmal Karwani and their children in 2013, the Old Bailey heard.

It was suggested that, after returning to Britain while her husband stayed behind, she was later turned away from Turkey by authorities when attempting to return.

The Old Bailey

The court heard Ahmed, who is said to have rejected extremism, had been effectively a lone parent living in temporary accommodation and had "suffered at the hands of strangers".

In mitigation, Hossain Zahir said his client was a "good mother" and was full of remorse.

During sentencing on Tuesday (November 7), Judge Moss said her period in custody had already had an "extremely adverse effect on the children".

'Abhorrent behaviour'

He said: "You have devoted your life, apart from this abhorrent behaviour, to the care of your children.

"There is no realistic danger of you returning to the mindset evidence of your conduct of two years ago.

"You want nothing more than to return to your family and your family want nothing more than to return to them.

“They have suffered greatly by your period in custody. Your case is in an entirely exceptional category."

Ahmed had been charged with two further counts of funding terrorism and the charges were dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence.

It was alleged she transferred £3,108.75 to a Turkish bank account in the name of her husband in September 2014 and sent him a further £4,300 in February 2015.

Mr Karwani, who was initially said to be a known Jihadist, was acquitted by a Turkish court of any offences and is now back in the UK.

Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: "Ahmed was sharing and publishing terrorist material via Facebook and actively encouraging others to carry out terrorist activity.

"She tried to hide behind a fake username and profile, but we were able to identify that she was behind the account and responsible for the posts.

"The issue of online radicalisation is a serious one, but it is one that the public can really help us with. I would urge anyone who sees anything online that is concerning to report it."

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