TWO Muslim students caught speeding in separate cars on the A9 at 121 mph were trying to get to a prayer meeting at a Mosque in Inverness, it was claimed in court.
Mohamed Mubarak and Syed Safiullah were clocked by speed cops on the A9 on a stretch of dual carriageway at Daviot on April 6 in a 70mph speed zone.
Both admitted at Inverness Sheriff Court driving dangerously at 121mph about 11.30am.
Depute Fiscal Laura Ryan said Safiullah (23) of Gilberthall Road, Coventry was driving behind Mubarak (24) of Heronbank, Coventry.
They were stopped by police on mobile patrol and the incident happened as the two students approached the junction to Fort Augustus, Sheriff David Hall was told.
Craig Wood, solicitor for Safiullah, said: "He is a Muslim. His god is Allah and he has to undertake specific religious rites every day and on a Friday he is required to attend communal prayer."
Mr Wood said the offence was committed at 11.18am and both men were trying to get to the mosque in Inverness for noon prayers.
"He is well aware he shouldn’t have been driving at that speed. But if someone is determined to exceed the speed limit that stretch of dual carriageway is as good as any a place because it’s dual carriageway on a downhill stretch and lengthy visibility."
Mr Wood said Safiullah was Indian and had a law degree which he studied five years for in India. "He is attending Warwick University doing a MSc and will be going back to do corporate law in India."
Duncan Henderson, solicitor for Mubarak, said he too was at Warwick University studying innovation and entrepreneurship.
He said he told police when stopped he didn’t see his speedometer.
Sheriff David Hall fined both £500 and disqualified them from driving for 12 months.
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