Silhan Özçelik (born 1996) is a British woman of Kurdish Turkish descent from Highbury, London. In 2015 she was convicted of an offence under section 5 (1) (a) of the Terrorism Act 2006 after she travelled to Belgium with the intention to join the proscribed Kurdistan Workers' Party (the PKK).
Silhan Özçelik | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1996 (age 27–28) London, England |
| Known for | Arrest and conviction on terrorism charges for planning to join the PKK |
| Criminal penalty | 21 months at young offender institution |
Biography
editOn 27 October 2014, Özçelik, aged 17, travelled to Brussels on the Eurostar, leaving a letter and video for her family stating that she had left to join the PKK and hoped to volunteer as a fighter against Islamic State.[1] Her brother stated that "we are 100 per cent sure she has gone away to carry out humanitarian and charity work and not to become a fighter against [Isis]".[2]
On 16 January 2015, Özçelik returned from Cologne, Germany, and upon landing at London Stansted Airport was arrested and bailed the following day.[1] In March she was remanded in custody and a protest in support of her was held outside HM Holloway Prison.[3][4]
In court Özçelik claimed to have lied to her parents about joining the PKK and had actually travelled to Brussels to see a man she was in a relationship with, which was "really shameful in our community".[5][6] Özçelik was found guilty, and sentenced to 21 months in a young offender institution on 20 November 2015.[1][5] She unsuccessfully appealed her case.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c Davies, Caroline (20 November 2015). "Girl becomes first Briton convicted of trying to join fight against Islamic State in Syria". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Owen, Jonathan (12 March 2015). "Silhan Ozcelik: 'Disgusting' trial for young woman who tried to fight against Isis". The Independent. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "North Londoner Silhan Ozcelik remanded over terror plan". BBC News. 12 March 2015. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Kurdish groups condemn terrorism charges against British-Kurd teenage girl". Rudaw. 15 March 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b "London teen found guilty of trying to join banned PKK". BBC News. 20 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Pennink, Emily (20 November 2015). "Silhan Ozcelik: Teenage girl who ran away to fight Isis with Kurdish group PKK jailed for 21 months". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "UK court rejects appeal of London woman found guilty of trying to join PKK". Daily Sabah. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.