A Young Muslim woman who called herself a "Lyrical Terrorist" has been given a nine-month suspended jail sentence.

Samina Malik, 23, from Southall, west London, was found guilty at the old bailey of owning terrorist pamphlets, including an Al-Qaeda Manual.
The jury was told a "library" of extremist Islamist literature was found in her bedroom and that Malik had written poems praising Osama Bin Laden.

Samina Malik is the first woman to be convicted under the Terrorism Act 2000. Her sentence is suspended for 18 months and she will have to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community. She will also be under supervision for the whole 18 months.

She had earlier been found not guilty of the more serious charge, under Section 57 of the Act, of possessing an article for a terrorist purpose. She denied the charges.

Malik had posted her poems on websites under the screen name the Lyrical Terrorist, prosecutors said. She said the poems were "meaningless", but prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said: "These communications strongly indicate Samina Malik was deeply involved with terrorist-related groups.

" The court also heard she had written on the back of a WH Smith till receipt: "The desire within me increases every day to go for martyrdom." Malik told the jury she only adopted her "Lyrical Terrorist" nickname because she thought it was "cool" and insisted she was not a terrorist.

The Recorder of London, Judge Peter Beaumont QC, said Malik's offence was "on the margin". He said: "The Terrorism Act and the restrictions it imposes on personal freedom exist to protect this country, its interest here and abroad, its citizens and those who visit here.

"Its protection embraces us all, its restrictions apply to us all whatever our personal, religious or political beliefs.' "In my judgement your offence is on the margin of what this crime concerns."

Malik's lawyer, Iqbal Ahmed read a statement on her behalf outside the Old Bailey following the sentencing. He said: "What she'd like to say is that the trial process has been a terrible ordeal for her, and she's now relieved it's all over.

"The jury found that she did not have the material for terrorist purposes, which was an important part of her case. She now wants to get on with her life."

Source: bbc.co.uk