NIA Court Convicts Two Coimbatore Men for ISIS Recruitment and Propaganda Activities in South India

As part of the legal proceedings, the court examined testimonies from 40 witnesses in this case. (Representational)

A specialized National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Kochi on Saturday convicted two individuals from Coimbatore for recruiting members and disseminating the ideology of ISIS, according to police reports.

The Special Court for NIA Cases in Kochi found Muhammad Azharudeen (27) from Anbu Nagar, Ukkadam, Coimbatore and Shiek Hidayathulla, also known as Firoz Khan (35), from South Ukkadam guilty of terrorism-related offenses.

Judge N Seshadrinathan determined that both defendants were guilty of criminal conspiracy under IPC section 120B, as well as violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act sections 38 (membership in a terrorist organization) and 39 (providing support to a terrorist organization).

During sentencing deliberations, both convicted individuals appealed for leniency, citing their family circumstances.

The court ordered, "Hidayathulla is remanded to Viyyur High Security Prison for a two-day period. Both accused will be physically present for the pronouncement of sentences on September 29."

The trial process involved testimony from 40 witnesses. Notably, Azharudeen faces additional charges in a separate explosion case in Coimbatore.

Although the original FIR named six accused individuals, the NIA filed a formal charge sheet against only two defendants in 2019.

The case originated in 2018 when the NIA obtained intelligence indicating that Azharudeen and his associates were promoting ISIS ideology with the intent to recruit vulnerable youth for conducting terrorist operations across South India, particularly targeting Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

According to an earlier NIA report submitted to the court, Azharudeen had affiliations with Wahadath-e-Islami, a frontal organization of Jamaath-e-Islami Hind, and participated in various organizational activities. He rose to become the district leader of Wahadath-e-Islami in Coimbatore during 2013 and began delivering speeches at events, including at Rayan Mosque from 2013 onward.

The report stated, "The accused Muhammad Azharudeen and Shiek Hidayathulla became radicalized through online material promoting extreme Salafi Islamic ideology from 2016 onward. They regularly viewed speeches from radical speakers including Anwar-Al-Awlaki, Abu Bara, Moosa Cerantonio, Zahran Hashim from Sri Lanka and others."

The investigation revealed that they downloaded extremist content to their digital devices and shared it among associates. "Azharudeen maintained communication with numerous Sri Lankan individuals and entities through Facebook and other encrypted social media platforms," the NIA reported.

Forensic analysis recovered speeches and materials attributed to Sri Lankan ISIS leader Zahran Hashim from the digital devices and social media accounts of the accused. From 2017 until March 2019, they actively promoted ISIS activities throughout South India.

The NIA further established that the accused had traveled extensively throughout Kerala since 2017, meeting associates at various locations and expressing their support for ISIS.

"The accused individuals also spread ISIS ideology among other associates in Coimbatore, both in person and through social media and digital devices, with the intention of recruiting additional members to the proscribed organization to further its objectives in India," the NIA concluded in its report.