An Algerian national who once held an al-Qaeda training manual and later received a nine-month prison term for immigration violations now works as the BBC principal data scientist in its Responsible AI division.

The story first appeared in The Telegraph on Saturday and was verified separately by this publication.

The individual is Hicham Yezza. While employed in an administrative post at the University of Nottingham in May 2008, staff found the al-Qaeda manual on his office computer and contacted police.

The file had been forwarded by his acquaintance, postgraduate student Rizwaan Sabir, who was studying Islamist terrorism and reportedly sought assistance with printing.

On May 14, 2008, both individuals were detained under the Terrorism Act 2000 for roughly six days. They were freed without charges after Yezza stated he had no terrorist ties and that the document was provided only for printing.

The Nottingham Two detentions and immigration sentence

The episode drew strong criticism from academics and civil-liberties groups and became known as the Nottingham Two case.

After release from the terrorism inquiry, Yezza faced immediate rearrest under immigration rules, with officials attempting to remove him to Algeria.

In 2009 he received a nine-month sentence for an immigration offense tied to his assertion of valid UK residency status. He served five months and later obtained British citizenship.

Following his release, Yezza founded Ceasefire Magazine, an outlet focused on political and cultural topics that promotes open discussion of progressive ideas.

His LinkedIn profile shows him as editor-in-chief from September 2010 to September 2021. Activity at the magazine has declined since then, with its latest piece a May 2025 commentary on Palestinian rights.

That article refers to Hamas as a faith-based movement and endorses resistance against Israeli settlements. No connection exists between Yezza and the current content.

Yezza BBC role and earlier comments on Israel

Beyond the magazine, Yezza worked as an editorial consultant for Al Jazeera from November 2017 to June 2019. He later spent three years and ten months at the BBC, first as a Middle East and North Africa expert and then as a senior journalist in the monitoring data hub.

During his MENA role he covered the Gaza conflict despite prior critical positions on Israel.

Since July 2025 he has served as principal data scientist for Responsible AI at the BBC, guiding the organization on ethical AI practices.

Before joining the BBC in 2021, Yezza posted frequently on social media about occupation and apartheid in Israel.

Many 2018 posts addressed Israel, backed Palestinian resistance, and defended Jeremy Corbyn against antisemitism claims.

He also described rocket fire from Gaza into Israel as resistance.

The publication contacted the BBC for comment.