"I am satisfied you had terrorist motivations."
A man from Tipton was jailed for shocking offences on December 19, 2024.
The 32-year-old Mohammed Nafees Ahmed pled guilty to eight offences of supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation.
He also posted several anti-Semitic, violent, and threatening comments on X beginning in October 2023.
These posts were said to be in support of Hamas and glorified reports and videos of Israeli soldiers being killed.
Ahmed also replied to posts from political figures in the UK and the US, and in his posts, he invited the Metropolitan Police to arrest him.
The politicians Ahmed wrote to included US President Joe Biden.
The court heard that Ahmed had dedicated his X account to Gaza and Israel after attacks by Hamas killed over 1,100 people.
Along with President Biden, Ahmed also sent posts to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was then leader of the Labour Party.
He also targeted James Cleverly and Suella Braverman and sent profanity to Piers Morgan.
Ahmed was arrested on March 20, 2024, and charged on September 16.
He was jailed for 12 months in December. Prosecutor Peter Ratcliff said:
“Having regard to his use of knife icons threatening politicians, a Jewish religious leader and broadcaster in the context of advocating attacks on Israel, it is open to conclude the defendant has terrorist motivations.”
In mitigation, Ahmed acknowledged that his actions were “misguided and ill-thought-out” and described himself as an “idiot”.
David Martin-Sperry said Ahmed had a “lapse of judgement” after he saw images of injured children, and he actually knew little about the organisation his posts were said to support.
Ahmed added that he did not consider himself to be antisemitic and had “no connections to the Middle East”.
He also identified himself as a “keyboard warrior”, but the barrister said that he was “in no sense a warrior against anybody on any score” and had been a “good person”.
The 32-year-old is married and a father to two children. He worked as an accountant during the week and a pharmacy delivery driver at weekends.
He since lost his job with a Walsall housing group and was working as a food delivery driver.
While jailing him, Judge Nigel Lickley KC told Ahmed: “I am satisfied you had terrorist motivations.
“I am satisfied you knew Hamas was a proscribed organisation despite you saying you were not aware.”
“Your words played a part in a worldwide dialogue at the time. Your behaviour cannot be overlooked.”
Ahmed was also sentenced to one more year on extended licence.
Detective Chief Superintendent Alison Hurst, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing in the West Midlands, said:
“We will not tolerate hate crime and violent and threatening comments or supporting and promoting an organisation that has been banned by the UK government.”
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