British radical preacher sentenced to life for terrorism leadership
8:51 AM EDT, July 31, 2024
British radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has been sentenced to life imprisonment for leading a terrorist organization. His followers are linked to numerous terrorist plots worldwide. "Organizations like Al-Muhajiroun normalize violence and embolden their members to commit acts that they would not otherwise undertake," the court stated in its ruling.
On July 23, Choudary was sentenced for leading the radical group called Al-Muhajiroun (The Emigrants), which was outlawed as a terrorist organization over ten years ago for encouraging others to support it. Choudary denied the charges.
In the ruling, the court found that the existence of "organizations like Al-Muhajiroun normalize violence and embolden their members to commit acts that they would not otherwise undertake. They drive a wedge between people who would otherwise be able to live in peaceful coexistence."
The judge described Choudary’s views as "deep-seated and repulsive to many right-thinking people." He added that Choudary is seen in the eyes of those open to the "message of hate" as "an intelligent and persuasive speaker," and also noted that he possesses "great determination" in pursuing his goals.
Anjem Choudary supported the Islamic State. Many terrorists cited his teachings
Choudary will only be eligible to apply for parole after more than 27 years in prison.
The 57-year-old imam, known as the "sower of hatred," is a trained lawyer. In 2016, he was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison for supporting the Islamic State (IS) and calling for allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
After serving half of his sentence, he was conditionally released from prison in 2018. Choudary has been considered for years as one of the most dangerous extremists in Britain.
Many terrorists cited his teachings: including one of the perpetrators responsible for the terrorist attack on London Bridge in June 2017, and two men who murdered soldier Lee Rigby in 2013.
In the past, Choudary refused to condemn those responsible for the London bombings in 2005, and at the same time praised the attackers who carried out the attacks in the USA on September 11, 2001. He also advocated for turning Buckingham Palace into a mosque.
