Man found guilty in UK terrorism trial after refusing to reveal passwords to electronic devices

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International director of campaign group Cage, Muhammad Rabbani (C) arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on September 25, 2017, for his trial, after being accused of refusing to reveal his mobile phone password at Heathrow Airport last year. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:43am, 26 Sep 2017Updated: 3:53pm, 26 Sep 2017

A man who refused to provide passwords to his electronic devices when stopped by British police was found guilty under terrorism laws at a court in London on Monday, in a case that campaigners say threatens personal privacy.

Muhammad Rabbani, 36, the international director of campaign group CAGE was found guilty of wilfully obstructing or seeking to frustrate an examination or search, and given a conditional 12-month discharge, and was ordered to pay a £620 (US$830) fine.

CAGE is an advocacy group which campaigns against the impact of counterterrorism policies, and came to international attention over links to Jihadi John, a British Islamic militant, before he went to Syria.

Rabbani said he was returning from a wedding in Qatar when he was stopped at Heathrow last November. Police seized his phone and computer, and demanded the passwords for the devices.

Rabbani said that he had not provided the passwords as he wanted to protect the privacy of a client who he was working with on an anti-torture case.

International director of campaign group Cage, Muhammad Rabbani (C), was found guilty of violating UK terrorism laws for refusing to reveal his password to his electronic devices. Photo: AFP

However, judge Emma Arbuthnot found that Rabbani was lawfully required to provide the passwords.