Treason charge idea considered for UK jihadists

[jimmy olsen]

While they're scum of the worst sort, unless they have attacked the British military or government, not sure how they'd be guilty of treason.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29655099

Islamic State has become one of the most powerful jihadist groups in the world

UK jihadists who travel to Iraq or Syria to fight could be tried for treason, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said.

He added that such people had "sworn personal allegiance" to Islamic State (IS) and therefore could potentially have committed the offence.

The last UK prosecution for treason was in 1946, when William Joyce was hanged for Nazi propaganda broadcasts.

Committing the offence involves being disloyal to the Crown.

Mr Hammond revealed that UK jihadists could be tried for treason when he was asked a question in the House of Commons by Conservative backbencher Philip Hollobone.

Mr Hollobone is the MP for Kettering

Mr Hollobone said: "Their [UK jihadists'] actions are treachery against Her Majesty, and aiding and abetting enemies of Her Majesty is one of the greatest offences a British citizen can commit."

Mr Hammond replied that there were "a number of offences under English law with which returning foreign fighters can be charged".

He added: "We have had a discussion about the allegiance question. We have seen people declaring that they have sworn personal allegiance to the so-called Islamic State.
'Family pleas for help'

"That does raise questions about their loyalty and allegiance to this country and about whether, as my honourable friend rightly says, the offence of treason could have been committed.

"I will certainly draw his remarks to the attention of the home secretary, who ultimately will be the person who needs to look at this."

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard's head of counter-terrorism Mark Rowley said that "dozens" of UK families have contacted the police in a bid to stop their relatives travelling to fight in Syria.

He also said "many" Britons, known to have travelled to Syria, had now returned to the UK and that police were in the process of attempting to arrest and prosecute them.

[Warspite]

The government is in a very odd position when it is on the one hand decrying foreign fighters going to Syria while at the same time spent the last three years actively encouraging armed opposition against the Assad regime.

[mongers]

The government is in a very odd position when it is on the one hand decrying foreign fighters going to Syria while at the same time spent the last three years actively encouraging armed opposition against the Assad regime.

Well yes they are rather coming late to the party with the realisation that you'll end up with the wrong sort of Jihades (is there a right sort?) .

[garbon]

The government is in a very odd position when it is on the one hand decrying foreign fighters going to Syria while at the same time spent the last three years actively encouraging armed opposition against the Assad regime.

Well yes they are rather coming late to the party with the realisation that you'll end up with the wrong sort of Jihades (is there a right sort?) .

I suppose one could say the dead sort.

[mongers]

The government is in a very odd position when it is on the one hand decrying foreign fighters going to Syria while at the same time spent the last three years actively encouraging armed opposition against the Assad regime.

Well yes they are rather coming late to the party with the realisation that you'll end up with the wrong sort of Jihades (is there a right sort?) .

I suppose one could say the dead sort.

Agreed, the best sort.

[Archy]

Over here they're thinking of reviving a law of the '70s against mercenaries to fight the people leaving for  Syia

[CountDeMoney]

While they're scum of the worst sort, unless they have attacked the British military or government, not sure how they'd be guilty of treason.

Once you've become an expert on English law, be sure to let us know.

[garbon]

While they're scum of the worst sort, unless they have attacked the British military or government, not sure how they'd be guilty of treason.

Once you've become an expert on English law, be sure to let us know.

What's weird is that the article speaks about that / Tim could even up William Joyce that the article mentions.

[Viking]

Norway actually has a law prohibiting fighting for foreign powers. So it's pretty easy to prosecute them provided you can prove they fought abroad.

[Martinus]

Norway actually has a law prohibiting fighting for foreign powers. So it's pretty easy to prosecute them provided you can prove they fought abroad.

Same in Poland.

[dps]

Norway actually has a law prohibiting fighting for foreign powers. So it's pretty easy to prosecute them provided you can prove they fought abroad.

Same in Poland.

Have they prosecuted any of the Polish pilots who served in the RAF during WWII under that law?

[Martinus]

Norway actually has a law prohibiting fighting for foreign powers. So it's pretty easy to prosecute them provided you can prove they fought abroad.

Same in Poland.

Have they prosecuted any of the Polish pilots who served in the RAF during WWII under that law?

In fact the Polish government in exile was based in the UK, it was allied to Britain and Polish pilots in RAF were serving as a part of Polish armed forces that were given over to the UK command by the Polish government.

So your idiotic attempt at trolling has: failed.

[Razgovory]

While they're scum of the worst sort, unless they have attacked the British military or government, not sure how they'd be guilty of treason.

Once you've become an expert on English law, be sure to let us know.

What's weird is that the article speaks about that / Tim could even up William Joyce that the article mentions.

What's odd about it, is they don't even mention one of the most salient facts about the Joyce case:  He wasn't a British citizen and never had been one.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

round them up, put them in plane, tell them it's going to syria, land in Damascus, inform Assad.

[Admiral Yi]

I could see how kidnapping and executing British citizens might qualify one for treason.  But surely simpler to just charge them with aiding a terrorist organization.