Community support has been overwhelming

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 17 Feb 2010 11:25

ALVA student Mohammed Atif Siddique - who was branded as Scotland's first Islamic terrorist - has thanked the community for its overwhelming support for both him and his family.

Atif, who has always maintained his innocence, walked free from the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh last week after appeal judges ruled he had been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

The appeal judges quashed his conviction for a major charge under the Terrorism Act, which accounted for six of the eight-year-sentence, ruling that the jury were misdirected by the trial judge in 2007.

The Crown Office then announced that Atif would not face a retrial.

Many in the Alva community were unconvinced of Atif's guilt following the dawn raid on his family's Myretoungate home in April 2006 and the 24-year-old told the Advertiser that he can't thank the community enough for their continual support.

He said, "It is fantastic being back home with my family. When I found out I was being freed I felt excitement amongst a lot of other emotions.

"It is just so good to be back in the community where I grew up and which has supported myself and my family.

"I always believed this day would come although it has taken a bit longer than we would have liked.

"When I had visits from my family in jail my parents would say that the community were behind me, which felt so good because I grew up here and they have known me all my life."

'Daft laddie'

In 2007 Atif was found guilty of three breaches of the Terrorism Act and a breach of the peace although throughout the trial, and ever since, he denied the most serious charge insisting he never had any intention to plan a terrorist attack, and was simply a "daft laddie" who was curious.

He said, "I never had any plans to hurt anyone - I was just a daft laddie. My family have been here for more than 30 years and everyone in the community knew us, as did the customers who came into the shop.

"If they ever had any issues with me they wouldn't have supported my family the way they did and we are fortunate that we live in such a close-knit community where everyone knows each other.

"Customers have been coming into the shop to congratulate me and I have had eight or nine different cards from them since I came home, so the support has been great."

One of the hardest things for Atif during his time in prison was the effect his arrest and subsequent trial had on his family.

"When I got sentenced to eight years it felt as if my family were being sentenced and it was extremely difficult for them as well," he said.

"We would like to thank everyone for supporting us and the community have been fantastic through all this."

Positive

Atif said that despite being the victim of a miscarriage of justice he now wants to focus on the future and believes that a positive that can come out of his case is a review of the terror legislation.

He said, "I feel as if I now need to put this behind me and get on with my life.

"I want to relax with my family, get back into a routine, go back to university and get a job.

"However, one good thing to come from this is a review of the law as there have also been cases down south with decisions like this."

Atif's elder brother Asif added, "The family are delighted to have Atif home.

"We always knew he was innocent and we were going to stand firm and fight our case and the backing we had from the community was an added help."

Neighbours of the Siddique's have also warmly welcomed the return of Atif to the community. Last Wednesday, the morning after his release from prison, those staying nearby were unanimous in their support.

One woman told the Advertiser, "They are a nice family and we are quite happy to see him out."

Jacqueline Laverty, another neighbour, who used to babysit for the family said, "I think it is brilliant news and a nicer family you could not meet.

"I have known them all as they have grown up and they have never done anybody any harm.

"As far as I'm concerned he was just an inquisitive laddie, like any other."

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