[Jailed: Silhan Ozcelik]
A woman has been jailed following her conviction for an offence under the Terrorism Act 2006.
Silhan Ozcelik, 18 (04.12.96) of London, N5 was today, Friday, 20 November, found guilty at the Old Bailey of a terrorist offence.
Ozcelik was convicted of engaging in conduct in preparation for giving effect to an intention to commit acts of terrorism contrary to section 5(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006 between 1 October 2014 and 27 October 2014.
She was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment.
Ozcelik is an 18-year-old British national of Kurdish heritage. On 27 October 2014, she was reported as missing from her family home after leaving messages for her family making it clear that she had an aspiration to join the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). She was 17 years old at the time.
The PKK is a Proscribed Organisation having been designated as such by the Home Secretary.
In messages left for her family, she told them “Ever since, at the age of 13, I watched the film made by Halil Uyalin about comrade Beritan, my support for the PKK has increased and I started to then dream about becoming a guerrilla. Finally I am making an informed decision to join and putting it into practice.”
Police enquiries established that Ozcelik had purchased a one-way ticket to travel from St Pancras Station, London to Brussels.
A 22-year-old man, who had been arrested in Hackney on Wednesday, 29 October 2014 (and who was believed to have travelled with Ozcelik before returning the next day), has since been informed that he faces no further action.
On Friday, 16 January, Ozcelik was arrested after she returned to Stansted Airport on a flight from Germany and was taken to a central London police station. Having been interviewed she remained on police bail until she was charged on Wednesday, 11 March and remanded into custody by the courts to await trial.
Police have no evidence that she travelled to Turkey or took part in any fighting whilst away from the UK.
Commander Richard Walton, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), said: “We continue to remain concerned about the number of young women and girls being drawn into all forms of terrorism. We urge parents and families to talk to us at the earliest opportunity if they have concerns about any girl or women being enticed into supporting terrorist groups like the PKK or ISIL.”
If you know anyone you feel may be potentially vulnerable to being drawn into terrorist-related activity, including travelling abroad to conflict zones please contact your local police for advice and support on 101. You can also visit the national Prevent Tragedies website for further guidance www.preventtragedies.co.uk
