A MAN who left USB sticks containing terrorist propaganda inside shoes of Muslim worshippers outside mosques has been jailed.
Omar Ashfaq, who traveled to mosques in Luton, Derby, Loughborough, Coventry and Birmingham between May and June last year to leave extremist material, was on Tuesday jailed for four-and-a-half years, with another year of monitoring on licence.
Worshippers who found the memory sticks with propaganda material included a nine-year-old boy.
The 24-year-old, from Derby, was arrested after worshippers informed mosque authorities, who identified Ashfaq from CCTV footage and informed the police.
A search of his home uncovered numerous bags of USB sticks as well as notes outlining his plans.
Among the material were two videos entitled "ISIS children execute spies" and "ISIS burn Turkish Apostate soldiers."
He admitted being in possession of three Daesh group propaganda magazines.
Deb Walsh from the CPS said: "Omar Ashfaq found a novel way to spread violent Daesh propaganda in the hope of encouraging British Muslims to commit terrorist acts.
"Instead the mosques he targeted found him on their CCTV recordings and handed in the footage and the memory sticks to the police.
"I want to thank them for acting quickly so the CPS had the crucial evidence we needed to encourage him to plead guilty."
Diwali celebration tomorrow kicks off business with ticketed workshops and networking.
Model taps into growing demand for inclusive, heritage-focused experiences.
Platform targets not just south Asians seeking cultural connection, but everyone.
Creating cultural belonging
Priyanka Patel, curator of The Empowered Desi, a new events platform for south Asians seeking cultural connection, is here with a Diwali celebration on Saturday (18) at Fargo Village in Coventry. The venture was born from personal experience – Patel felt "isolated and neglected" growing up without many south Asian friends. Spotting a gap in the market, she's now building a business around creating inclusive spaces for south Asians regardless of religious or regional background.
Diwali-themed , Paint N Sip event in Coventry marks the venture's next partnership with local business Sugar and Spice, Patel is offering a ticketed experience featuring diya decorating workshops, Indian grazing boards with chai, and jewellery stations where guests can take home jhumkas and bangles. The Diwali format combines cultural celebration with networking opportunities, with south Asian attire preferred.
Empowerment through experience
I couldn't talk about the festivals we celebrate, the type of Indian food we have, and also the clothes we wear for special occasions," Patel told BBC."I felt that I couldn't express my individuality, which in turn affected my confidence and self-worth." She realised that lack of cultural belonging represented an untapped market.
The business model centres on experiential events that blend tradition with social connection. The first workshop held on September (20) focused on bento cake decorating, a trendy format paired with south Asian networking. Patel aims for attendees to "feel empowered and inspired."
With South Asian Heritage Month highlighting the importance of cultural spaces, The Empowered Desi positions itself at the intersection of community building and commercial viability. Patel's betting that others share her experience and are willing to pay for a sense of belonging.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.