BBC NEWS | UK | UK suicide bomber family cleared
BBC NEWS | UK | UK suicide bomber family cleared
The relatives of a would-be suicide bomber have been cleared of failing to disclose information about terrorism.
An Old Bailey jury decided the brother and sister of Omar Sharif had not known of his plan to attack an Israeli bar and could not have prevented it.
His sister Parveen Sharif, a teacher, was also cleared of inciting her brother to commit a terrorist act.
The body of Sharif, 27, of Derby, was found 12 days after he fled the scene. An accomplice’s bomb killed three.
Asif Hanif, 21, a student from London, died when he blew himself up outside a popular bar in Tel Aviv in April 2003. The explosion at Mike’s Place killed three people and injured more than 50.
Emails in full
Suicide bomber trial: Emails in full
The brother and sister of a would-be British suicide bomber have been cleared of failing to notify authorities of a potential terrorist attack.
Emails sent between would-be suicide bomber Omar Sharif and his brother Zahid formed the centre of the case against his family, with the prosecution saying they indicated the family knew what he was planning. The jury found Zahid and Parveen Sharif not guilty.
The emails have been slightly corrected for ease of understanding.
From: Omar Sharif
To: Parveen Sharif and Zahid Sharif
Sent: 11 April 2003. Time: 7.15pm.
19 days before the bombing
Sharif’s suspected location: Jordan
“Sallam [peace and greetings] bro, I’m in Jordan. Had to change travel destination but I will still continue my holiday elsewhere. AE … !
“Take care sallam omar”
From: Zahid Sharif
To: Omar Sharif
Sent: 11 April 2003. Time: 7.27pm
19 days before the bombing
“Salaam, Nice to hear fro you, Make dua [prayers] for us all, because InshAllah [God willing] the dua of a Musaafir [traveller] is accepted.
“Ma Salaam, Zahid.”
From: Omar Sharif
To: Zahid Sharif and Tahira Tabassum
Sent: 22 April.
Eight days before the bombing
Sharif’s possible location: Palestinian authority territories
Message to Zahid:
“I hope u are well. Please take care of yourself. Difficult times may lay ahead for you and the family in the next few weeks or months if Allah wills.
“Plan now and get rid of any material you may consider problematic.”
Sharif asked his brother to pass on an attached message to his wife:
“After reaching our destination Allah guided us to his friends who were very happy to see us, and said they needed our help very much.
“I hope you are strong. Know that everything is just a test, and Allah will reward the patient ones.
“Look after [our children], bring them up well. We did not spend a long time together in this world but I hope through Allah’s mercy and your patience we can spend an eternity together. You will hear from my friend the good news.
“Make dua that Allah makes me sincere, firm and that he accepts my actions.”
The email ends with an instruction to delete it.
From Parveen Sharif
To: Omar Sharif
Sent: 23 April. Time: 2.08pm.
Seven days before the bombing
Omar Sharif’s suspected location: Unknown.
“We are happy that you are focused in your studies. InshAllah we all have to be firm and focused with reality as time is slipping away, and there is really no time to be weak and emotional.
“It does not matter of consequences to us in this life because we do not fear or allow to be weak … because the eternal fact is Allah controls everything.
“InshAllah when we see you again it will be like only half a day has passed. The trouble is when our minds are a little idle and wander to negative thoughts, which is an old trick of Satan.
“Do not attach yourself to anything so much that your suffering is ongoing. It was Allah’s will which soul was your company for particular days of your life whether you consider them as a stranger or not. Your guarantee is for the eternal ahead but our soul is eternal, it does not die.
“We were told to rejoice not to be in a depression as we have the best of news for all our loved ones which will come to pass very quickly. You should not be sad but determined in your aims as we have a tremendous burden and duty on our heads in these times.
“Try to see life in this world as a job with variety of duties without emotions except to your Lord. In your spare time make lots of specific duas rather than worrying. I wonder what punishment Allah will send the ignorant Muslims this scares me.
“Tiara is happy that you are in a happy frame of mind. She will InshAllah try to send [the children] to [a previous discussed school].
“Do not worry about TIARA AND KIDS. I WILL INSHALLAH ALWAYS BE THERE FOR HER AND SHE IS STRONG AND FOCUSED. YOU MARRIED A REAL GOOD WOMAN SHE IS VERY HAPPY WITH YOU.
“EVERYONE MAKES DUA FOR YOU AND TAIRA AND KIDS. OUR WORRY IS FOR DEEN [religion] AND FINAL ABODE – EVERYTHING ELSE IS EMOTIONAL STRUGGLE ON MANY TESTS WHICH WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
“I MAKE DUA WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU AND TAIRA AND THAT YOU WILL BE SPECIALLY BLESSED AND SUCCESSFUL IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT.
“InshAllah I hope you read this. For the very short time being InshAllah we will speak to you real soon as we are guaranteed this.
“There are no goodbyes, just a lapse of time. Stay focused and determined. You have no time for emotions. From parveen and everyone.
“May Allah take care of us all and join us all soon.”
From Omar Sharif
To: Parveen Sharif
Sent: 23 April. Time: 7.28pm.
Seven days before the bombing
“Salam parv, may Allah bless you. Thank you very much for the letter. It was very helpful. InshAllah we will all see each other soon.
“Remember me in your duas. Sallam omar.”