Stratford mum-of-four Farishta Jami, 36, planned to flee to Afghanistan with children to become martyrs for Islamic State

A Stratford mum-of-four has been found guilty of terrorism - after planning to flee to Afghanistan with her children to become martyrs for Islamic State.

Farishta Jami, 36, was born in Afghanistan but came to Britain in 2008, became a British citizen in 2013 and moved to Stratford in 2023 - where she worked as a dinner lady.

This morning (Thursday) a jury at Leicester Crown Court found Jami guilty of two counts of preparing acts of terrorism between 1st September 2022 and 10th January 2024.

Burner phones and £1,200 was found hidden in her home, a modern house in Meon Vale.

Police found thousands of images and videos relating to IS terrorism, including beheadings and children used as suicide bombers.

Detective Chief Superintendent Alison Hurst of West Midlands Police told the Herald that Jami’s home was searched following “intelligence information” about her suspicious behaviour – and that of her elder children.

“She was prepared to martyr not just herself but her children as well,” said DCS Hurst. “She was prepared to die for the cause.”

DCS Hurst said the message from the police was to urge the public to look out for any suspicious activity and report it at the earliest opportunity. “The earliest we intervene to support families and prevent radicalisation, the better,” she said.

Jami had bought a one-way ticket to Afghanistan for herself and her children, said DCS Hurst. “She’d saved a substantial amount of money, shared vile terrorism material on social media and shared the values of extremist people to do with ISIS,” the chief superintendent added.

When interviewed by the police she claimed she was going to Afghanistan to visit her family, but in reality she was preparing to martyr herself and her family as well.

DCS Hurst said the “substantial amount of money” Jami had saved came to £1,200 – but this was a lot of money for someone who was not in employment.

The judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, will sentence Jami tomorrow (Friday, 14th February) at a hearing beginning at 2pm.