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Silhan Özçelik

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Silhan Özçelik
Born1996 (age 27–28)
London, England
Known forArrest and conviction on terrorism charges for planning to join the PKK
Criminal penalty21 months at young offender institution

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).

Biography

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On 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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "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.