A Tajikistan-born former researcher at the University of Western Australia has pleaded guilty to a charge of inciting terrorism abroad.
Australian news agencies reported on August 1 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, admitted at a hearing to inciting extremist attacks in Tajikistan.
The 54-year-old biological chemist was arrested in December 2020 and charged with advocating the commission of a terrorist act overseas, which carries a maximum six-year prison term.
Odinazoda was due to stand trial on three charges in 2023. However, prosecutors said at an August 1 hearing 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.
He is expected to be sentenced later this month.
