A Tajikistan-born former researcher at the University of Western Australia has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to inciting terrorism abroad.
Australian news agencies reported over the weekend that Abdusalom Odinazoda, officially known in Australia as Abdussalam Adina-Zada and considered by the authorities in Western Australia to be one of the state’s most dangerous people, will be eligible for release on parole in August 2023.
The 54-year-old biological chemist was arrested in December 2020 and charged with advocating the commission of a terrorist act overseas.
Earlier this month, Odinazoda admitted at a court hearing to inciting extremist attacks in Tajikistan.
Odinazoda was due to stand trial on three charges in 2023. However, prosecutors said earlier this month that they had dropped two of the charges after Odinazoda agreed to plead guilty to one count of inciting terrorism. The charge stems from his online activities between January and March 2019.
Odinazoda, who worked at the University of Western Australia from 2009 to 2012 as a research associate, has been in custody since his arrest.