Father of schoolgirl who joined IS to become 'jihadi bride' admits he took her on protest march when she was just 13

 
Chants: Abase Hussen (left) protests against a US film criticised for mocking Islam outside the US Embassy in 2012
Rachel Blundy6 April 2015

The father of a runaway schoolgirl who is believed to have fled to Syria to join Islamic State as a 'jihadi bride' has revealed he took his daughter on a protest march when she was just 13.

But today Abase Hussen denied he is extremist after he was pictured at a flag-burning rally led by hate preacher Anjem Choudary outside the US Embassy in 2012.

He spoke of his regret at attending demonstration in an interview with The Times, as he revealed he had also taken his daughter Amira Abase, to another protest march outside the Saudi embassy when she was aged 13.

The rally had intended to highlight the treatment of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia.

Michael Adebowale - one of Fusilier Lee Rigby's killers - is also said to have been present at the US Embassy rally against controversial film Innocence of Muslims.

Jihadi brides: Amira Abase, 15, was one of three London girls who travelled to Syria last month

Images of Mr Hussen, 47, at the US Embassy protest emerged after his 15-year-old daughter Amira and two teenage friends went missing from their family homes in east London, prompting an international police hunt.

Mr Hussen told The Times: "It was a mass protest. I had heard it was going on from mosques, so I went there, I just went by myself, I went to show my feelings because my religion was being insulted, my faith. Protesting is not radical, it is our right."

He apologised for his involvement and said he disagreed with flag burning, according to the newspaper.

He said: "I feel tricked. It is strange for me. I feel that I don't know what I was doing, I did not know who they (the organisers) were. I just followed the crowd, I feel ashamed."

Heading for Syria: Bethnal Green Academy pupils Amira Abase, Kadiza Sultana and Shamima Begum seen on CCTV at Gatwick

He added he felt "terrible" knowing he had protested with one of Mr Rigby's murderers.

Bethnal Green Academy pupils Amira, Shamima Begum and Kadiza Sultana are believed to be inside Syria after flying to Turkey on a well-trodden path to the country.

Mr Hussen said he was "disappointed and upset" at his daughter for apparently joining IS. She has reportedly not had contact with her family since she left the UK in December.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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