New Delhi: Two Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) activists, including a US national, were on July 21 sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for sedition and five years imprisonment under Prevention of terrorism Act (POTA) for being members of the banned outfit.

Designated judge S N Dhingra also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on Mohammad Yasin Patel alias Falahi, a US national of Indian descent, and Mohammad Ashraf Jaffery, observing that they deserved no leniency in view of their actions "aimed at destroying Indian nationalism".

As the court pronounced the sentence, an unrepentant Patel told the judge, "This will strengthen our mission."

The duo was arrested by the Delhi police special cell from Jamia Nagar area in South Delhi on May 27, 2002 while they were pasting provocative posters on the wall of Jamia Millia Islamia University library.

The posters proclaimed "destroy nationalism, establish Khilafat". Police had also recovered 35 such posters from their possession.

They, police claimed, wanted to take up the cause after the attack on Muslims in Gujarat.

The Union Home Ministry by an order dated September 27, 2001 declared SIMI an unlawful organisation and banned it under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.

PTI