A man who published tweets encouraging terrorism against India has been given a home curfew by a sheriff.

Firoz Madhani, from Edinburgh, posted the statements to the social media site Twitter in September 2019 from his home and elsewhere.

The four tweets were published on 21 September 2019 and related to the conflict in Kashmir.

In one, Madhani appears to be asking Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan to attack India, adding “we are ready to kill & die”.

In a later tweet he adds “we will cross border and bleed them”. All the tweets refer to “Jihad”.

The 67-year-old was stopped at Edinburgh Airport on 27 November 2019 after police were alerted to his tweets and his phone was seized.

Madhani pled guilty to a Terrorism Act 2006 offence at at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in September and was sentence today.

The Herald:

Sheriff Daniel Kelly had previously deferred sentence on Madhani, from the city’s Dalry area, until November for reports.

He was given an eight month restriction of liberty order - which requires him to remain within his home between 8am and 8pm.

He was also placed under supervision for a year.

Jennifer Harrower, procurator fiscal for specialist casework, said: "It is unacceptable to post messages that could encourage others to commit acts of terrorism, no matter your politics or beliefs.

"COPFS has a duty to keep the people of Scotland safe from harm and are committed to working with other agencies to ensure those committing offences under the terrorism legislation are brought to justice."

The charge related to “glorifying acts of terrorism acts committed by others, encouraging acts of violence, and inciting violence by and against governments”.

The charge continued that Madhani’s posts had the intention to be a “direct or indirect encouragement or other inducement to the commissions, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism” or that his actions were “reckless” as to whether that was the effect.