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Anjem Choudary: Radical cleric sentenced to five years for supporting Isis Anjem Choudary: Radical cleric sentenced to five years for supporting Isis
(about 1 hour later)
Hate preacher Anjem Choudary has been jailed for five years and six months for drumming up support for Isis.Hate preacher Anjem Choudary has been jailed for five years and six months for drumming up support for Isis.
Choudary, 49 from Ilford, north-east London, backed the terrorist group in a series of talks posted on YouTube. Choudary, 49, from Ilford, east London, backed the terrorist group in a series of talks posted on YouTube.
The radical cleric also recognised a caliphate - a symbolic Islamic state - had been created under an Isis leader after it was announced in June 2014, the Old Bailey heard. The radical cleric also recognised a caliphate – a symbolic Islamic state – had been created under an Isis leader after it was announced in June 2014, the Old Bailey heard.
Despite being a leading figure in the banned group al-Muhajiroun (ALM), and with a series of former supporters going on to be convicted of terrorism, Choudary stayed on the right side of the law for two decades. Despite being a leading figure in the banned group Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), and with a series of former supporters going on to be convicted of terrorism, Choudary stayed on the right side of the law for two decades.
But police arrested Choudary along with one of his followers, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, after they posted a pledge of allegiance online.But police arrested Choudary along with one of his followers, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, after they posted a pledge of allegiance online.
Following an Old Bailey trial, the pair were found guilty of inviting support for IS between 29 June 2014 and 6 March 2015 and remanded in custody. Following an Old Bailey trial, the pair were found guilty of inviting support for Isis between 29 June 2014 and 6 March 2015 and remanded in custody.
For legal reasons, details of the case could not be reported until three weeks after the guilty verdicts were delivered on 28 July.For legal reasons, details of the case could not be reported until three weeks after the guilty verdicts were delivered on 28 July.
Choudary faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison, although Mr Justice Holroyde said there was little precedent for such cases. Choudary faced a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison, although Mr Justice Holroyde said there was little precedent for such cases.
The trial heard that the preacher, viewed by officers as a key force in radicalising young Muslims, had been the "mouthpiece" of Omar Bakri Mohammed - the founder of the banned extremist group ALM. The trial heard that the preacher, viewed by officers as a key force in radicalising young Muslims, had been the “mouthpiece” of Omar Bakri Mohammed – the founder of the banned extremist group ALM.
He courted publicity by voicing controversial views on Sharia law, while building up a following of thousands through social media, demonstrations and lectures around the world. He courted publicity by voicing controversial views on Sharia law, while building up a following of thousands through social media, demonstrations and lectures across the world.
In one speech in March 2013, Choudary set out his ambitions for the Muslim faith to "dominate the whole world". In one speech in March 2013, Choudary set out his ambitions for the Muslim faith to “dominate the whole world”.
He said: "Next time when your child is at school and the teacher says, 'What do you want when you grow up? What is your ambition?', they should say, 'To dominate the whole world by Islam, including Britain - that is my ambition'." He said: “Next time when your child is at school and the teacher says, ‘what do you want when you grow up? What is your ambition?’, they should say, ‘to dominate the whole world by Islam, including Britain – that is my ambition’.”
Supporters included Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, the murderers of Fusilier Lee Rigby, and suspected IS executioner Siddhartha Dhar. Supporters included Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, the murderers of Fusilier Lee Rigby, and suspected Isis executioner Siddhartha Dhar.
Shortly after the announcement of the caliphate, Choudary held a meeting with his closest aides at a curry house in Mile End Road in east London to discuss it.Shortly after the announcement of the caliphate, Choudary held a meeting with his closest aides at a curry house in Mile End Road in east London to discuss it.
Before accepting it was legitimate, he also consulted his "spiritual guide", Omar Bakri Mohammed, currently in jail in Lebanon, and Mohammed Fachry, the head of ALM in Indonesia. Before accepting it was legitimate, he also consulted his “spiritual guide”, Omar Bakri Mohammed, currently in jail in Lebanon, and Mohammed Fachry, the head of ALM in Indonesia.
On 7 July 2014, the trio's names appeared alongside Rahman's on the oath posted on the internet, which stated the Muhajiroun had "affirmed" the legitimacy of the "proclaimed Islamic Caliphate State". On 7 July 2014, the trio's names appeared alongside Rahman’s on the oath posted on the internet, which stated the Muhajiroun had “affirmed” the legitimacy of the “proclaimed Islamic Caliphate State”.
The defendants followed up by posting on YouTube a series of lectures on the caliphate, which Choudary promoted to more than 32,000 Twitter followers.The defendants followed up by posting on YouTube a series of lectures on the caliphate, which Choudary promoted to more than 32,000 Twitter followers.
The married father-of-five denied encouraging his followers to back the terror group and insisted the oath had been made without his knowledge. He said of the pledge: "It is completely unnecessary. For the rest of the Muslims it is obedience from the heart." The married father-of-five denied encouraging his followers to back the terror group and insisted the oath had been made without his knowledge. He said of the pledge: “It is completely unnecessary. For the rest of the Muslims it is obedience from the heart.”
Despite protesting his innocence, he continued to express extreme views, refusing to denounce the execution of journalist James Foley by so-called Jihadi John, aka Mohammed Emwazi, in Syria in 2014.Despite protesting his innocence, he continued to express extreme views, refusing to denounce the execution of journalist James Foley by so-called Jihadi John, aka Mohammed Emwazi, in Syria in 2014.
He told the jury: "If you took an objective view, there are circumstances where someone could be punished." He told the jury: “If you took an objective view, there are circumstances where someone could be punished.”
Following the convictions, Commander Dean Haydon, head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, said: "These men have stayed just within the law for many years, but there is no-one within the counter-terrorism world that has any doubts of the influence that they have had, the hate they have spread and the people that they have encouraged to join terrorist organisations. Following the convictions, Commander Dean Haydon, head of Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, said: “These men have stayed just within the law for many years, but there is no-one within the counter-terrorism world that has any doubts of the influence that they have had, the hate they have spread and the people that they have encouraged to join terrorist organisations.
"Over and over again we have seen people on trial for the most serious offences who have attended lectures or speeches given by these men. “Over and over again we have seen people on trial for the most serious offences who have attended lectures or speeches given by these men.
"The oath of allegiance was a turning point for the police - at last we had the evidence that they had stepped over the line and we could prove they supported Isis." “The oath of allegiance was a turning point for the police – at last we had the evidence that they had stepped over the line and we could prove they supported Isis.”
Choudary's conviction was also welcomed by leading British Muslims, who condemned his "evil" and "hateful" views. Choudary's conviction was also welcomed by leading British Muslims, who condemned his “evil” and “hateful” views.
After his conviction, Choudary's Twitter account was removed by the social media giant.After his conviction, Choudary's Twitter account was removed by the social media giant.