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Posted on 10/29/2001 3:53:39 PM PST by Pokey78

BRITISH Muslims contemplating going to Afghanistan to join the Taliban's jihad against the West were warned yesterday that they could be put on trial for treason or murder.

Amid reports that a number of British Muslims had already died while fighting with the Taliban, Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, said even those who were lucky enough to return alive might find themselves jailed here.

A hardline Islamic group calling itself al-Muhajiroun claimed at the weekend that four out of "thousands" of British Muslims who had gone to Afghanistan to join the Taliban had died in the allied bombing.

British officials said they were aware that a number of British Muslims had gone to Pakistan with the intention of crossing into Afghanistan to fight for the Taliban but the figure of "thousands" was thought to be exaggerated.

Asked by Arab journalists in London about the reports, Mr Hoon said: "I would hope that anyone who is contemplating going to Afghanistan does think very carefully about the consequences, both to them and their families, in terms of the grief they may suffer, as well as the legal action that might follow on their return, if they were to return."

The Home Office said there was a wide number of different charges that anyone who had fought on behalf of the Taliban might be tried under, which would "theoretically include treason".

Al-Muhajiroun, which is led by a British-based Syrian cleric, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, has warned of "a war within Britain" if any British Muslim is charged with treason for fighting with the Taliban.

However, the Home Office said: "Treason is probably not the most appropriate charge, although the law on treason would cover someone who joined enemies acting against this country."

They could also be tried for murder or assault in Britain for any acts committed abroad, a spokesman said. But the most likely charges would be under anti-terrorism legislation.

Mr Hoon's warning came as an opinion poll found that many more British Muslims would rather fight for Osama bin Laden than for Britain.

Sunrise, an Asian radio station, canvassed the opinions of 500 Muslims in Greater London, mainly of Pakistani origin and aged between 20 and 45.

An overwhelming majority - 91 per cent - believed the war was between the Christian West and Islam, while 98 per cent would not fight for Britain.

In marked contrast, 48 per cent said they would fight for bin Laden or for Islam. Another big majority - 79 per cent - said they did not support Britain in its war in Afghanistan. "The results indicate that Tony Blair's message is not getting through and the Government needs to work a lot harder," said Avtar Lit, chairman of Sunrise.

Al-Muhajiroun claimed that the four dead Britons - from Luton, Crawley, Birmingham and Derby - were killed when a bomb hit a house in Kabul where they were staying with other foreigners who had gone to help the Taliban.

They had arrived in Afghanistan earlier this month, a spokesman said. "They were declared missing in action after last Wednesday night's bombing on Kabul and on Sunday it was confirmed that they have been martyred."

Al-Muhajiroun released the names of three of the Britons, saying they were the team leader Aftab Manzoor, 25, Yasir Khan, 26, and Afzal Munir, 25. It withheld the fourth name at the request of relatives.

Sheikh Omar denied that his organisation had recruited any British Muslims to fight in Afghanistan.

"Our offices in Lahore are open for British Muslims and these men passed through there. Many Muslim families are leaving Britain to return to their homeland. Their first allegiance is to Allah, not to the Queen."

Al-Muhajiroun is one of a number of Islamic organisations being monitored by the police for potential breaches of the Terrorism Act 2000.

One British Muslim who took part in secret military training sessions in Afghanistan said he was a member of al-Muhajiroun and would return to help the Taliban fight British troops.

Abu Yahya, 26, of Plaistow, east London, said: "If the West goes to war against any Muslim country I have a divine obligation to join my brothers and sisters."

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