In a recent conversation, Justice Amanda Fox did not hold back on her disapproval of Aran Sherani’s actions. Sherani, a convicted terrorist, was sentenced to eight years in prison after a jury found him guilty of preparing for a terrorist act based on a video he made in 2021. The video depicted the 22-year-old pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, a move that has sparked significant concern.
The footage was particularly alarming, showing Sherani not only expressing his loyalty to the Islamic State but also boasting about evading police while wielding a knife. During the trial, he admitted to being part of a terrorist organization and confessed to setting two bushfires in northern Melbourne in February 2021. Disturbingly, he threatened civilians in the video, claiming they would face the “fire of Allah.”
Interestingly, despite the serious nature of his actions, both Sherani and his older brother, Ari, were acquitted of charges related to attempting to commit terrorist acts. In her remarks at sentencing, Justice Fox highlighted the gravity of Sherani’s behavior, stating that he had not only embraced but actively promoted the “depraved ideology” of the Islamic State.
“It’s serious offending that must be denounced,” Justice Fox declared as she handed down the eight-year sentence, allowing for the possibility of parole after six years.
