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| conviction = [ | conviction_penalty = | conviction_status = In custody | occupation = | spouse = | partner = | parents = | children = | alma_mater = {} }} Naeem (Urdu: ') (also known as . b. 1969, Pakistan) is a convicted Pakistani–Australian criminal and , currently serving an Australian custodial sentence of twenty years, with a non-parole period of fifteen years for conspiring to commit a terrorist act or acts. Naeem was the first convicted Australian terrorist under amendments made to the Commonwealth's Criminal Code Act 1995, in May 2003.

Early life and education

Naeem was born in Pakistan and grew up in Sialkot. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan.

In 1998, Naeem immigrated to Australia and later obtained Australian citizenship. He attended the University of Sydney, from which he earned a Bachelor of Architecture.

Arrest, trial, and aftermath

On 26 October 2003, following an investigation by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, police and ASIO raided Naeem Lakemba home and workplace and discovered evidence of a terrorist plot. He was accused of plotting to bomb the national electricity grid and/or Sydney defence sites in the cause of violent jihad. His possible targets were the national electricity supply system and three Sydney defence installations; the army base Victoria Barracks, the naval base HMAS Penguin, and the army training area Holsworthy Barracks.

During his trial, the court was told he and Willie Brigitte, who was deported in October 2003 for breaching his tourist visa, trained in Pakistan with Lashkar-e-Toiba and had contact using mobile phones registered under false names. The court was also told he helped arrange accommodation for Brigitte when he arrived in Sydney, in May 2003.

At the ruling, Justice Anthony Wheally commented that Lodhi had "the intent of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause, namely violent jihad" and to "instil terror into members of the public so that they could never again feel free from the threat of bombing in Australia".

He was convicted by a Supreme Court of New South Wales jury on 19 June 2006 on three terrorism-related offences, namely:

• acting in preparation for a terrorist act, an offence carrying a maximum life sentence;
• seeking information about chemicals capable of making explosives; and,
• possessing a "terrorism manual" and buying two maps of the electricity grid, connected with preparation for a terrorist act.

The jury found that Naeem was not guilty of one charge of downloading aerial photographs of Sydney defence sites in preparation of a terror act.

In August 2006, he was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, with a 15-year non-parole period. He is classified as a high-security "AA" prisoner and will be eligible for parole in 2019.

Personal life

Naeem is a devout Sunni Muslim and is married to Aysha Hamedd.

See also

• Islamic terrorism and Australia

References

1. "An Act to amend the Criminal Code Act 1995, and for related purposes", from ComLaw.gov.au
2. ^ Canter, David (2009). The Faces of Terrorism: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780470744505.
3. ^ Wallace, Natasha (19 June 2006). "naeem guilty of terror plot". The Sydney Morning Herald.
4. "accused of terrorist acts". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 2004.
5. Wallace, Natasha (17 November 2005). "Accused terrorist faces trial for lying to ASIO". The Sydney Morning Herald.
6. Sales, Leigh (23 August 2006). "Sydney terrorism suspect jailed for 20 years". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
7. "Pakistan-born guilty in jihad plot". 20 June 2006. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013.
8. ^ Lamont, Leonie (23 August 2006). "Lodhi gets 20-year terror term". The Sydney Morning Herald.

External links

• 'deserves' 20 years Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
• Lodhi jailed for 20 years over terror plot

Alleged militants in the war on terror who have lived in Australia
People listed in italics have died.
Sydney Five	Khaled Cheikho Moustafa Cheikho Mohamed Ali Elomar Abdul Rakib Hasan Mohammed Omar Jamal
Held in Guantanamo Bay	David Hicks Mamdouh Habib
Alleged al-Qaeda members	Bilal Khazal
2009 Holsworthy Barracks plot	Wissam Mahmoud Fattal Nayaf El-Syed Saney Edow Aweys
Others	Willie Brigitte Faheem Khalid Lodhi Abdul Nacer Benbrika
Currently imprisoned.    Released after serving sentence.

] ] Category

• 1932 births
• New South Wales architects
• Australian Islamists
• Australian prisoners and detainees
• Australian Sunni Muslims
• Islamic terrorism in Australia
• Living people
• Pakistani people imprisoned on charges of terrorism
• People convicted on terrorism charges
• Prisoners and detainees of the Commonwealth of Australia
• Lashkar-e-Taiba members