Abdul Rahman Saleem
Encyclopedia
Abdul Rahman Saleem, also known as Abu Yahya, is a British-Iranian Islamic activist, born around 1975.
, Iran
in 1975 to a Punjabi
Sunni family. He left Iran
for London
in 1979 following the Iranian Revolution
where he was bullied and discriminated against for his Asian identity. This provoked his embracement of radical Islam and later he became closely acquainted with Al-Muhajiroun members Omar Bakri and Anjem Choudary
. Nonetheless, he excelled in his studies, earning 11 A* Grades at GCSE and 5 A grades at A Level in English literature
, Persian
, Further Mathematics
, Mathematics
and Physics
. Despite this, he opted to attend University in Iran and was granted a placement at Sharif University of Technology
to study Mechanical Engineering
in 1993. He graduated in 1998 and returned to the United Kingdom
the following year.
, and was a prominent member of al-Maddad, an organization that claims to have sent dozens of British Muslims to fight in Chechnya
and elsewhere. In August 2001, ...he went to secret camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan and trained in the use of guns and explosives.
He lives in Poplar, London
. He is the father of five children and works for British Telecom as an engineer.
On November 18, 2005 he attended the founding of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah
.
He participated in the Islamist demonstration outside the Danish Embassy in London in 2006, where he chanted "Europe you will pay with your blood" and "Denmark, USA, 7/7
on its way" through a megaphone, and he was charged with using words likely to stir up racial hatred and released on bail
to appear at West London Magistrates' Court on March 31, 2006 On February 1, 2007, he was found guilty, and will be held until his sentencing in April.
He was found guilty of Incitement to Terrorism Overseas by a unanimous verdict, and found not guilty of Terrorist Fundraising by a majority verdict on the 17th of April in Kingston Crown Court, for his part on a DVD of the Night of Power, the 27th night of Ramadan in September 2004. He gave a series of speeches at the Regent's Park Mosque, the DVD of which was discovered at the former residence of Omar Bakri in 2006. He was sentenced the following day to three years imprisonment.
Early life and education
Saleem was born in MashhadMashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in 1975 to a Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
Sunni family. He left Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1979 following the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
where he was bullied and discriminated against for his Asian identity. This provoked his embracement of radical Islam and later he became closely acquainted with Al-Muhajiroun members Omar Bakri and Anjem Choudary
Anjem Choudary
Anjem Choudary is a British former solicitor, and, before it was proscribed, spokesman for the Islamist group Islam4UK. He is married, has four children, and lives in Ilford, London....
. Nonetheless, he excelled in his studies, earning 11 A* Grades at GCSE and 5 A grades at A Level in English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
, Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, Further Mathematics
Further Mathematics
Further Mathematics is the title given to a number of advanced secondary mathematics courses. Higher and Further Mathematics may also refer to any of several advanced mathematics courses at many institutions....
, Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. Despite this, he opted to attend University in Iran and was granted a placement at Sharif University of Technology
Sharif University of Technology
Sharif University of Technology is a university of higher education in technology, engineering and physical sciences in Tehran. Sharif University of Technology is one of the most prestigious universities in the country, and is considered Iran's MIT...
to study Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in 1993. He graduated in 1998 and returned to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
the following year.
Career
He is a former Al Muhajiroun spokesman, a former member of the Saved SectThe Saved Sect
The Saved Sect , formerly and more generally known as The Saviour Sect, is a Muslim organization that operated in the United Kingdom from its formation in November 2005 until the British government proscribed it on 17 July 2006...
, and was a prominent member of al-Maddad, an organization that claims to have sent dozens of British Muslims to fight in Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
and elsewhere. In August 2001, ...he went to secret camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan and trained in the use of guns and explosives.
He lives in Poplar, London
Poplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
. He is the father of five children and works for British Telecom as an engineer.
On November 18, 2005 he attended the founding of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah
Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah
Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jama'at and other variants may refer to:* Sunni Islam, the majority sect of Islam* Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah , an Islamic organisation operating in the United Kingdom...
.
He participated in the Islamist demonstration outside the Danish Embassy in London in 2006, where he chanted "Europe you will pay with your blood" and "Denmark, USA, 7/7
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
on its way" through a megaphone, and he was charged with using words likely to stir up racial hatred and released on bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
to appear at West London Magistrates' Court on March 31, 2006 On February 1, 2007, he was found guilty, and will be held until his sentencing in April.
He was found guilty of Incitement to Terrorism Overseas by a unanimous verdict, and found not guilty of Terrorist Fundraising by a majority verdict on the 17th of April in Kingston Crown Court, for his part on a DVD of the Night of Power, the 27th night of Ramadan in September 2004. He gave a series of speeches at the Regent's Park Mosque, the DVD of which was discovered at the former residence of Omar Bakri in 2006. He was sentenced the following day to three years imprisonment.