A Turkish migrant who arrived in the UK by small boat has been jailed for 45 months after posting pro-Islamic State videos online whilst seeking asylum.
Hakan Barac, 28, was arrested by counter-terrorism police last year after sharing content glorifying Isis and terrorists including Osama bin Laden.
The Turkish national reached British shores two years ago and was in the process of applying for asylum when authorities discovered his extremist online activities.
Barac pleaded guilty to distributing terrorist publications and supporting a proscribed organisation.
Hakan Barac, 28, was arrested by counter-terrorism police last year after sharing content glorifying Isis
COUNTER TERRORISM POLICING WALES
Bristol Crown Court heard that the 28-year-old had been posting videos on social media platforms including Instagram and Telegram.
His videos showed jihadists preparing for "martyrdom" and featured Mohammed Khalifa, the Saudi-born Canadian recruiter for the terrorist organisation.
Prosecutors noted that "a substantial number of followers to his accounts were interested in extreme Islamic subject matters".
Investigators later found additional material posted shortly before his arrest that glorified Isis and "martyrdom".
Judge Martin Picton condemned Barac's actions whilst sentencing him in Bristol.
"You are here seeking asylum but at the same time choose to disseminate material that strikes at the very heart of our democratic society," the judge said.
MORE MIGRANT CRIME:
Bristol Crown Court (pictured) heard that the 28-year-old had been posting videos on social media showing jihadists preparing for 'martyrdom'
PA
He described how Barac had shared material glorifying "violent terrorism" with clear potential to support such activity.
"This is not a victimless crime," Judge Picton said.
Picton also warned that individuals can be encouraged by social media posts to carry out acts of violence.
Prosecutor Ben Lloyd told the court that Barac shared extremist material "recklessly" with "wilful disregard" for the serious risk of encouraging terrorist activity.
"The prosecution's position is that the defendant's activity, while not intentional, nevertheless involved a repeated and wilful disregard with a clear, serious and obvious risk of encouraging terrorist activity," he said.
The court heard Barac entered the UK illegally on a small boat on April 22, 2023.
The court heard Barac entered the UK illegally on a small boat on April 22, 2023 (file photo)
PAHe had no leave to remain - but was permitted to stay while his asylum application was considered.
Mitigating, Tim Forte KC claimed Barac had pleaded guilty on the basis there was "no intention to assist or encourage" terrorism.
The defence argued his posts had only been seen by a small number of people.
"He thought he had a hundred followers - that's not a huge group in a country of 60 million, in a world of eight billion," Forte told the court.
Judge Picton concluded that due to his sentence length, Barac would automatically be referred to authorities to consider deportation.
