Aberdeen Terror Accused: Islamic State 'Like A Mafia Organisation'
An Aberdeen medical student accused of terrorism charges has told a court that Islamic State was "like a Mafia organisation or a criminal gang."
Aberdeen University student Yousif Badri, 29, who denies two terrorism charges, was giving evidence for a third day at his trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
In evidence he accused IS of "hijacking" Muslim history by naming their regiments after respected figures and using a flag similar to a traditional one and added: "They are trying to get almost legitimacy for what they are doing.
"It tries to appear as a religious organisation, but it's more like a Mafia organisation or criminal gang."
Defence QC Murdo Macleod said: "There is an ongoing debate between militants and non-militants," and Badri replied: "Yes."
The QC went on: "You will have been strongly opposed to Al-Qaeda and IS," and Badri said: "Yes."
Badri was arrested on June 6, 2013 the day after sitting his final exams and a laptop, an external hard drive and books were seized from his home at Ashgrove Road, Aberdeen.
The court has heard that hundreds of thousands of files were found on Badri's computer and hard drive and the prosecution case involved only a few dozen files and videos.
These included footage of allied troops being ambushed and shot at by snipers and shells being made.
Defence QC Murdo Macleod asked Badri: "Do you want to shoot anybody," and he replied: "No."
Mr Macleod then said: "Are you interested in making shells," and Badri replied: No."
The jury was shown a number of books owned by Badri about Islamic culture, history and politics, many of which had been downloaded onto an external hard drive.
Many of them were described to the jury as expressing a moderate viewpoint.
The author of one book condemned the 9/11 terror attacks on America and stated that there is no room for terrorism in Islam.
Mr Macleod asked Badri: "Do you agree with this," and Badri answered: "Yes, I agree with that strongly."
Badri is on trial accused of two terrorism charges which he denies.
He is accused of being involved in conduct "with the intention of committing acts of terrorism".
The offences are said to have been carried out at two places in Aberdeen -Badri's former flat in Ashgrove Road and in Berryden Retail Park.
Badri's current address in Halifax, West Yorkshire, also features in the alleged offences.
Prosecutors claim that between 2007 and 2013 Badri collected or made a record of information likely to be useful to a person "committing or preparing an act of terrorism". This allegedly included footage of terror attacks as well as instructions on "urban assassinations" and "guerrilla tactics".
A second charge alleges that Badri "with the intention of committing acts of terrorism" engaged in various actions between 2006 and 2013.
Accusations listed in the indictment include a claim he had an "equipment list" for attending a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan.
He is also said to have possessed "advice for those involved in conducting terrorist attack planning operations".
The charge further alleges that he had documents, recordings and files containing "extreme ideology".
Were you interested in learning how to kill anyone, were you interested in becoming a member of Al Qaeda, were you interested in making bombs," and he replied: No."
He was asked by trial judge Lord Turnbull how he found the site from where he downloaded videos which showed shootings and the making of hand grenades and shells and replied: "Google."
Badri said that none of the files name gave any indication of what they were about and added: "There would be a link to another site and it downloaded items on your computer on a zip file.
Defence QC Murdo Macleod said: "We saw horrific footage of soldiers being shot by snipers," and Badri replied: "The only bits I was interested in was the Koran. But obviously you are shocked by it."
Mr Badri told the court that the videos were "essentially propaganda" and added: "It is almost to coerce people to join and to give legitimacy to the cause, when there is not really any at all. It is moral disengagement saying they are allowed to kill and using some religious text to justify it. What you don't see are the victims' families and how they think about it."
He was asked if he had taken any delight or relish in watching sniper killings on video and replied: "No, it's a human being at the end of day."
Referring to the copies of the Al Qaeda magazine Inspire he had on his hard drive he said he was interested not in articles about bomb making, but in those referring to religion.
He added: "I glanced at the bomb making article but I didn't think 'Oh I should try this."
Badri denies the charges against him.
The trial continues.