Father and brother of British man who fought against Isis in Syria charged with terror offences
Daniel Newey joined the YPG while it was fighting Isis but returned to Syria during battles against Turkish forces
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The father and brother of a man who fought against Isis in Syria have been charged with terror offences, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind.
Paul Newey, 49, is accused of funding terrorism by sending £150 to his son, while 19-year-old Sam Newey is accused of assisting his brother.
Daniel Newey, 27, joined the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) while it was being backed by the US-led coalition to push Isis out of its Syrian territories in 2017.
He returned to Britain in 2018 but travelled to Syria for a second time last year, after Turkey launched an offensive against the YPG.
A small group of protesters supporting his father and brother gathered outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Security officers were called to the courtroom after one demonstrator got into an argument with a West Midlands Police officer before the short hearing.
The elder Mr Newey pleaded not guilty to sending money, while either knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect it may be used for the purposes of terrorism.
His son, Sam, was not asked to enter a plea to a charge of engaging in conduct with the intention of assisting his brother to prepare or instigate acts of terrorism.
The two men, from Solihull, were bailed to appear at the Old Bailey on 21 February.
Additional reporting by PA