UK NEWS

ANWAR CLEARED BUT HIS CAREER IS STILL AT RISK

DEFIANT: Aamer Anwar

Wednesday July 2,2008

By Brian Horne

CONTROVERSIAL lawyer Aamer Anwar was still fighting to save his career last night, despite being cleared of contempt for claiming his client’s terror trial was unfair.

The human rights solicitor faced up to two years in jail after denouncing the conviction of computer student Mohammed Atif Siddique, 21, as a “tragedy for justice and freedom of speech”.

Judges cleared Mr Anwar of contempt of court, but criticised his “angry and petulant” conduct. Supporters, including his client the former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan, cheered the decision at the High Court in Edinburgh.

But the governing body for Scottish solicitors – the Law Society of Scotland – may still take action against the lawyer.

Director of regulation Philip Yelland said: “We note that the court has not raised a complaint against Mr Anwar with the Society, which it is entitled to do. What we can now do is examine the opinion in detail and take whatever action is appropriate.”

Siddique was found guilty after trial of providing material on bomb making and weapons training, and threatening to become a suicide bomber.

After he was jailed for eight years in October, Mr Anwar read a statement condemning the verdict. He later described some of the evidence against Siddique as “farcical”, claiming that he had done nothing more than look at internet sites.

Trial judge Lord Carloway considered the comments to be in contempt of court and referred them to three senior colleagues.

Lord Osborne said the lawyer’s statements “embody angry and petulant criticism of the outcome of the trial process,” but said: “No contempt of court has been committed.”

The judge, who heard the case with Lord Kingarth and Lord Wheatley, said Mr Anwar had failed to meet the standards expected from officers of the court.