Woman appears in court on terror charge over YouTube video links to extremist preacher

A woman accused of sharing links to YouTube videos featuring an extremist Islamic preacher has appeared in court charged with a terror offence.

Sadia Malik, 36, is charged with one count of disseminating terrorist materials on January 28 2014.

The charge relates to two messages, which were each allegedly sent to 12 people using encrypted messaging app WhatsApp.

Prosecutors say the links led to five videos of speeches and sermons delivered by Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, which encouraged terrorism.

Malik, from the Grangetown area of Cardiff, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Tuesday, wearing a dark grey headscarf.

She did not enter the dock, speaking only to confirm her name, date of birth and address before indicating a not guilty plea to a single charge of disseminating terrorist publications, contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism Act.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tanweer Ikram sent the case to the Old Bailey, where Malik will appear for a preliminary hearing on September 21.

She was granted conditional bail.

Malik was arrested in July as part of a joint investigation by the North East Counter Terrorism Unit and Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit.

Her husband, Sajid Idris, 34, who is also from Cardiff, has already been charged with four counts of disseminating terrorist publications as part of the same investigation.