British imam jailed for six-and-a-half years for supporting Islamic State terror group

A British imam who told children that martyrdom was better than academicsuccess has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail for supporting the so-called Islamic State terror group.

Kamran Hussain, 40, was secretly recorded by an undercover officer making a series of radical sermons over four months last year.After he was arrested, the defendant argued the ability to discuss "difficultconcepts in a challenging world" was an essential part of religion and claimed he was exercising his right to freedom of speech.

But following a trial at the Old Bailey, Hussain, from Tunstall, Staffordshire,was found guilty of two charges of supporting IS and six of encouragingterrorism on dates between June and September last year.

Hussain's Friday lunchtime speeches at the charity-funded mosque in Tunstall High Street, Stoke-on-Trent, were in front of around 40 worshippers, often including children as young as 10.

On September 2 last year, Hussain talked about martyrdom to a congregation of nine children and 35 adults.

Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse QC said:

Hussain continued on the same theme on September 16 and criticised the Prevent programme, aimed at identifying and intervening when young people are at risk of radicalisation, jurors heard.

At a meeting on August 19 last year, there were up to 15 children present and 25 adults as he gave a sermon about "kuffar" or non-Muslims, the court heard.

Hussain was said to have blamed the British Government for creating the English Defence League and funding them to "insult" Muslims and put them down.

He also claimed far right group Britain First was a "Government-backedproject", jurors heard.

In all, the undercover officer known as Qasim attended 17 sermons, 10 of which had "strayed beyond the mainstream moderate Islamic thought", Mrs Whitehouse said.

On June 24 last year, Hussain referred to IS in his sermon as "a smallfledgling state who is standing in the face of a pompous and arrogant army".

On that occasion he called on the congregation of 10 men to pray for theirvictory and for their oppressors to be "annihilated".

The court was told Hussain had one previous conviction in 2008 for perverting the course of justice at Stafford Crown Court for which he was handed 14 months in jail.