Briton who fought Islamic State faces terror charge

[bots]

A British man who fought against so-called Islamic State is to be charged with a terror offence.

Ex-soldier Jim Matthews, 43, of London, travelled to Syria and fought with the Kurdish forces, the YPG.

Mr Matthews will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 14 February to be charged with one count of attending a place used for terrorist training.

He appeared in a Channel 4 documentary - The Brits battling Isis - about his fight against the jihadist group.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said Mr Matthews was alleged to have attended "a place or places in Iraq and Syria where instruction or training was provided for purposes connected to the commission or preparation of terrorism on or before 15 February 2016".

The offence comes under section 8 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Analysis
By BBC News correspondent Emma Vardy

This is believed to be the first charge of its kind in the UK.

It is estimated that since 2015 dozens of Britons have fought as volunteers with the Kurds in Syria.

The YPG have been important allies of the West in helping to defeat so-called Islamic State.

But terrorism laws in the UK prohibit engaging in violence for a political or ideological cause.

It has so far been unclear how the actions of Britons fighting against Islamic State would be treated by the British courts.

The government has long repeated warnings that fighting with any group could lead to legal consequences.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42982245

This is a weird one. Aren't the armed services engaging in violence for a political or ideological cause :shrug:

[Marches]

This is a weird one. Aren't the armed services engaging in violence for a political or ideological cause :shrug:

yeah but people decide what the law is when its convenient for them

[Oliver_W]

This is believed to be the first charge of its kind in the UK.
So why haven't people fighting for the Islamic State faced this charge? Surely fighting against IS are the opposite of terrorists?

[Livia]

People going abroad to fight have always been of interest to the security services. MI5 held a file on George Orwell when he went to fight in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. When former IS fighters return they are charged under section five of the Terrorism Act 2006. Of course there are claims that we have no idea how many IS fighters have actually re-entered the country. Personally, as far as those fighting with IS are concerned, I'm with former Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, that they should be should be hunted down and killed before they ever get back to the UK.

[Livia]

This is a weird one. Aren't the armed services engaging in violence for a political or ideological cause :shrug:

HM Armed Forces and mercenaries are very different things.

[jaxie]

It's complicated I think because although this person is on the 'right' side of the conflict as in the same side as their home state, they aren't fighting for their country but as an independent in a foreign state. This means technically they are the same as someone who leaves to fight for Islamic state in the eyes of the law.

[Livia]

It's complicated I think because although this person is on the 'right' side of the conflict as in the same side as their home state, they aren't fighting for their country but as an independent in a foreign state. This means technically they are the same as someone who leaves to fight for Islamic state in the eyes of the law.

They are, Jax... but the legal outcomes will be very different. He's appearing before a magistrate and I'll be very surprised if it gets any further than that. And if it does, there will be a long like of lawyers offering to support him pro bono.

Or as Our Scott would say... pro boner.