Anthony Small, Former British Boxing Champion, Accused of Trying to Join ISIS
AP, 20 Jun , 2015
Anthony Small, a retired boxer who held light middleweight championships in Great Britain, was one of three London men accused by a court of attempting to join terror group ISIS.
"The prosecution's case is they intended to travel to Syria to join and support what is called Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, known as Isil or Isis," prosecutor Richard Whittam said in his opening statement of the trial, per BBC.
Small, Michael Coe and Simon Keeler were arrested last year on terror-related charges. Prosecutors allege that Small tried to smuggled jihadists out of the United Kingdom and into Syria, where they would then perform acts of terror in support of ISIS.
Small, who converted to Islam at age 24 and is otherwise known as Abdul Haqq, has been an outspoken supporter of the Islamic State group. He released a video in September of last year excusing ISIS beheadings of American journalists, saying they "[weren't] unprovoked." Small had previously participated in rallies calling for Great Britain to not involve itself with the War in Afghanistan.
British prosecutors also charged Small with disseminating terrorist publications, saying he published an article titled "Attacks By Muslims In Perspective" and recorded a speech titled "Another James Foley beheading."
All three men have maintained their innocence.