A female terrorist who gloated that the 2017 Westminster attack was 'the decree of Allah' was on January 25 jailed for 19 months. She claimed she did not realise her messages could land her in trouble.
Asma Aweys, 30, from Edmonton, north London, was jailed alongside her brother and husband, who shared sickening messages in their family WhatsApp group.
While Ahmed Aweys was jailed for 25 months, Asma's husband Abdulaziz Abu Munye was sent behind bars for 15 months.
Describing the Westminister attack, Aweys said: “This was by the decree of Allah.”
The mom-of-two said singer Ariana Grande was "the devil", in the wake of the Manchester bombing in a message recovered by police.
Aweys also had copies of Rumayah, a jihadi magazine, and articles in the publication included advice on how to make napalm and Molotov cocktails.
The family downloaded and shared ISIS material while bragging: “We are embedded in their societies, we are the enemy within.”
Two of Aweys’ brothers -- Wail and Suleyman – had travelled to Syria in early 2015 and are believed to have died in the fighting. The family’s lawyer, Rhiannon Crimmins, tried to defend the family’s action stating they were simply trying to find out what had happened to the missing siblings.
Crimmins said: “It was simply something she did to some extent to allay some frustration.
“Within the WhatsApp conversation there are significant lengthy conversations about the two brothers who are missing.
“For Ms Aweys the most significant aspect is that her youngest child was 15 months old when she was taken into custody.
“At the time she did not realise that her comments and downloading documents could get her into so much trouble.”
However, the judge, Mark Dennis QC, dismissed the argument, stating: "The WhatsApp messaging speaks volumes. It is apparent that other adults related to the defendants shared similar views and varying degrees of support for the extremist cause."
Police discovered the family’s extremist views following a tip off that Ahmed Aweys and his two half-brothers were planning to break into a Muslim-run jewellery shop in Ilford Lane, east London.
They were caught red-handed and messages found on their phones showed the family, who are of Somali origin, sharing ISIS propaganda messages.
Supporters of political and religious party Jamat-e-Islami attend a rally in support of Pakistan Armed Forces in Islamabad, Pakistan, May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz
People stand next to a damaged vehicle in a neighbourhood, following Pakistan's military operation against India, in Rehari, Jammu, May 10, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
