Convicted Islamist for terrorism becomes candidate in UK elections: what is known

In the UK, convicted terrorist Shahid Butt has registered as an independent candidate in the Birmingham City Council elections, a decision that has drawn criticism from victims of Islamist attacks.

This is reported by The Telegraph .

Shahid Butt was sentenced to five years in prison in 1999 for plotting to blow up the British consulate, an Anglican church and a hotel in Yemen. The court found that he had been sent to Yemen as part of a group linked to the Finsbury Park mosque preacher Abu Hamza to carry out terrorist acts.

In December 1998, Western tourists were kidnapped in Yemen with the demand for the release of Butt and his accomplices, resulting in the deaths of several hostages, including 3 British citizens.

In January 2015, a New York court sentenced Abu Hamza to life in prison on 11 counts of terrorism and kidnapping.

Victims of Islamist attacks criticized Butt’s admission to run in the elections, saying it discredited the political system.

At the same time, Butt himself stated that he regretted past events, but insisted on his own innocence regarding the terrorist charges.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes, I regret a lot of things from my past. It can’t be changed, and I have to live with it. That’s why I’m involved in helping young men not to repeat my mistakes,” said Shahid Butt.

After his release in 2003, Butt has positioned himself as a counter-extremist and claims to have worked with the UK Home Office and the Prevent deradicalisation programme.

The 62-year-old candidate is currently running as part of an alliance of independent candidates who plan to contest about 20 seats on Birmingham City Council in the election scheduled for May 7.

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