A convicted ISIS terrorist who entered the UK on a small boat has been jailed after telling a court he chose Britain over France because he heard on TikTok that the UK “accepts everyone” and respects human rights. Mohammed Yaseen, 35, arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel from France in December 2025, despite having previously been jailed in Germany for belonging to the Islamic State terror group.
Background and Arrival
Winchester Crown Court heard that Yaseen lied about his identity, age and nationality when he was intercepted by Border Force and claimed asylum after reaching Britain. Prosecutors said he gave officers a false name, claimed he was from Kuwait and concealed his previous terrorism conviction. Steven Molloy, prosecuting, told the court Yaseen had travelled to Germany in 2014, where he was later sentenced to four years and three months in prison after being convicted of participating in a terrorist organisation and being a member of ISIS. Although he was expelled from Germany for 20 years following his conviction, he eventually travelled to France before attempting to enter the UK aboard a small boat carrying around 80 people.
Court Proceedings
The court heard the vessel was intercepted by Border Force on December 13, 2025. Mr Molloy said Yaseen told immigration officials: “He did not like it in France but heard on TikTok that the UK accepts everyone and respects human rights.” Following his arrival, Yaseen was housed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Basingstoke, Hampshire, while his asylum claim was processed. However, biometric checks quickly exposed his false identity, revealing his previous conviction in Germany. He was arrested at the hotel on Christmas Eve.
The court heard Yaseen had lived what prosecutors described as a “desolate” life in Iraq before joining ISIS. He attended public executions, floggings and stonings carried out by the terrorist group and was found in possession of a Kalashnikov rifle. Mr Molloy told the court there was “a deeper and lengthy involvement in terrorism and Islamic extremist ideology”. “Our assessment is that he is high risk in all categories,” he said. “There is a danger that this individual poses to the whole of the UK.”
Sentencing and Deportation
Yaseen admitted one count of attempting to enter the UK without a valid entry clearance. During proceedings, he required an Arabic interpreter, although prosecutors argued he was capable of speaking English and only reverted to Arabic when he realised he could be overheard. Defence barrister Katie Porter-Windley acknowledged Yaseen’s previous terrorism conviction but argued it had no relevance to his attempt to enter Britain and noted he had committed no further offences in the UK. Sentencing him to two years in prison, Judge Christopher Parker KC described Yaseen as presenting an “exceedingly high” level of culpability. “You made absolutely no mention of what had happened in Germany in 2020 when you were convicted of a serious offence,” the judge said. “There is a strong likelihood that you will be deported from this country either at the start of or before your sentence is concluded.” Yaseen is expected to be deported from the UK after serving his sentence.
