Sydney, Austrailia - Five men who considered themselves devout Muslims possessed extremist material advocating violent jihad and showing glorified images of ritual beheadings, a Sydney court heard today.
The men are accused of conspiring with others to prepare a terrorist act, and allegedly had obtained explosives and firearms, Crown prosecutor Richard Maidment, SC, said.
Mr Maidment said they possessed material "which supported indiscriminate killing, mass murder and martyrdom in the pursuit of violent jihad".
But the jury members have been warned they need to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that all five agreed to the preparation of a violent act that was motivated by religion, politics or ideology and aimed to intimidate or coerce governments or the public.
"This is a circumstantial case," Supreme Court Justice Anthony Whealy told the jury.
The Crown alleged the material found in the homes of the accused - Mohamed Elomar, Abdul Rhakib Hassan, Khaled Cheikho, Mostafa Cheikho and Mohammed Omar Jamal - showed they believed Islam was under attack and violence jihad was their religious obligation.
The men, all Muslims, have pleaded not guilty.
The trial started in Parramatta this morning and is due to last nine months.
Justice Whealy told the jury: "The Muslim religion is not on trial here. We Australians are very fortunate because we live in a very tolerant and open-minded society."
He instructed the jury to judge the case impartially and only on the evidence presented.
The trial continues