One of Britain’s best-known radical Islamic preachers was sentenced Tuesday to 5 and 1/2 years in prison for encouraging support for the Islamic State group.
Anjem Choudary has been one of the best-known faces of radical Islam in Britain for years, leading groups under names including al-Muhajiroun, Islam4UK and Muslims Against Crusades.
Authorities see Choudary as a key voice radicalizing young Muslims. Several people who attended his rallies and events have been convicted of violent attacks, including Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, the killers of British soldier Lee Rigby.
The 49-year-old firebrand preacher gained attention for headline-grabbing statements that provoked outrage but stayed within the bounds of the law, such as protesting outside the U.S. Embassy on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and burning memorial poppies on Remembrance Day.
But the London-born preacher ran into trouble in 2014 after his name appeared on an oath declaring the legitimacy of the “proclaimed Islamic Caliphate State.” Choudary said the oath had been made without his knowledge.
His supporters shouted “Allahu akbar,” the Arabic phrase for “God is great,” as Choudary was sentenced at Central Criminal Court in London.
Both Choudary and Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, 33, who received the same sentence were found guilty of inviting support for IS between June 29, 2014 and March 6, 2015.
(AP)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
6 Responses
yess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i hope they take care of him in jail
should have thrown him out of the country
I don’t know enough about the British justice system of the particulars of this man’s case to say whether or not this is a just result but I am concerned about putting a radicalizer in the general prison population where radicalization is known to take place. Will he spend the next five years creating a multitude of terrorists or is there a solitary in England?
I hate to say it, but he is the most honest EVIL man I know of. Unlike most Muslim clerics that say one thing to their Muslim brothers and another thing to the media, this Rasha states exactly what he believes in and what many Muslims truly believe in. He does not hide his beliefs. Non-the-less, I’m sadden to hear that 5 1/2 years is all he’s getting. He should be put in Jail for life.
The british have already thought about him radiclizing prisoners – according to British news sources special prison isolation units are to be set up for Anjem Choudary and other hate
preachers to stop them radicalising fellow inmates.
Life in jail? In Britain 5.5yrs is considered like a life sentence. I was surprised he even got that – if you follow court cases in England, it’s a joke and really depends on what mood the judge is in. Time to sort out the judicial system.