Zeeshan Anis Siddiqui
Encyclopedia
Zeeshan Siddiqui is a citizen of the United Kingdom
, who was apprehended in Pakistan after he fell under suspicion of being associated with terrorism.
Prior to his travel to Pakistan Zeeshan worked for London
's Underground
-- its rapid transit
system.
According to the Daily Times he was arrested when he went to a Police Station in Peshawar
to report the loss of his passport.
Zeeshan reports he was tortured by Pakistani security officials, with the knowledge of UK security officials.
Much of the questioning he underwent was to explore any ties he may have had with UK citizens who set off four suicide bombs on the London transit system on July 7, 2005—about two months after his apprehension.
Zeeshan wasn't charged with any terrorism related offenses.
He was charged with not having valid travel documents.
These charges were dropped in December 2005 and he was released in January 2006.
A Pakistani judge ruled that he should receive cornea
l surgery, because his beatings had damaged his eyesight.
Following his return to the United Kingdom, in May 2006, Zeeshan was put under a control order
, which restricted his travel, and required him to regularly report in to his local police.
His name was originally unpublished.
According to the BBC
,
following his return he took "a customer service job with a firm with links to Euro-Disney resort in Paris".
He sought an amendment to the control order's travel restrictions, because his new job would require training in Paris.
When he didn't comply with the terms of his control order he was confined to a mental institution, while waiting for a hearing.
On June 14, 2007 the Daily Mail
reported that he escaped from that mental institution, and was at large.
The BBC reported that he entered the mental institution because he started to experience hallucinations and flashbacks, related to his torture.
When the control order was first imposed the press was proscribed from publishing his name, and he was identified only as "AD". The BBC won the right to publish his name and excerpts from his diaries.
and Omar Khyam
.
Mohammad Sidique Khan was the oldest of four suicide bombers who exploded bombs on London's underground on July 7, 2005.
Omar Khyam was charged with leading another faile bomb plot.
Counter-terrorism officials allege that he attended a military training camp with the two men.
Counter-terrorism officials allege that he met Abd Al Hadi al-Iraqi, a senior Al Qaida leader.
Zeeshan acknowledges traveling to Pakistan in 2003, but asserts that it was spiritual reasons, and claims he only participated in humanitarian work there.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, who was apprehended in Pakistan after he fell under suspicion of being associated with terrorism.
Prior to his travel to Pakistan Zeeshan worked for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
-- its rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system.
Pakistani capture
Zeeshan was apprehended by Pakistani security officials on May 15, 2005.According to the Daily Times he was arrested when he went to a Police Station in Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
to report the loss of his passport.
Zeeshan reports he was tortured by Pakistani security officials, with the knowledge of UK security officials.
Much of the questioning he underwent was to explore any ties he may have had with UK citizens who set off four suicide bombs on the London transit system on July 7, 2005—about two months after his apprehension.
Zeeshan wasn't charged with any terrorism related offenses.
He was charged with not having valid travel documents.
These charges were dropped in December 2005 and he was released in January 2006.
A Pakistani judge ruled that he should receive cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
l surgery, because his beatings had damaged his eyesight.
Return to the United Kingdom
Zeeshan was deported from Pakistan to the United Kingdom when he was released from Pakistani custody on January 6, 2006.Following his return to the United Kingdom, in May 2006, Zeeshan was put under a control order
Control order
A control order is an order made by the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom to restrict an individual's liberty for the purpose of "protecting members of the public from a risk of terrorism". Its definition and power were provided by Parliament in the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005...
, which restricted his travel, and required him to regularly report in to his local police.
His name was originally unpublished.
According to the BBC
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
,
following his return he took "a customer service job with a firm with links to Euro-Disney resort in Paris".
He sought an amendment to the control order's travel restrictions, because his new job would require training in Paris.
When he didn't comply with the terms of his control order he was confined to a mental institution, while waiting for a hearing.
On June 14, 2007 the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
reported that he escaped from that mental institution, and was at large.
The BBC reported that he entered the mental institution because he started to experience hallucinations and flashbacks, related to his torture.
When the control order was first imposed the press was proscribed from publishing his name, and he was identified only as "AD". The BBC won the right to publish his name and excerpts from his diaries.
Alleged jihadist associates and alleged jihadist activities
Counter-terrorism official have asserted they are concerned that Zeeshan is an acquaintance of Mohammad Sidique KhanMohammad Sidique Khan
Mohammad Sidique Khan was the oldest of the four homegrown suicide bombers and believed to be the leader responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings, in which bombs were detonated on three London Underground trains and one bus in central London suicide attacks, killing 52 people excluding the...
and Omar Khyam
Omar Khyam
Omar Khyam is a citizen of the United Kingdom, who led a terrorist plot.He was trained in bomb-making at the Malakand training camp in Pakistan in 2001 or 2002.He was the ringleader of a plot to explode a fertilizer bomb in London.-References:...
.
Mohammad Sidique Khan was the oldest of four suicide bombers who exploded bombs on London's underground on July 7, 2005.
Omar Khyam was charged with leading another faile bomb plot.
Counter-terrorism officials allege that he attended a military training camp with the two men.
Counter-terrorism officials allege that he met Abd Al Hadi al-Iraqi, a senior Al Qaida leader.
Zeeshan acknowledges traveling to Pakistan in 2003, but asserts that it was spiritual reasons, and claims he only participated in humanitarian work there.