Anjem Choudary: Radical preacher jailed for life

Anjem Choudary, the head of the forbidden organization al-Muhajiroun, has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars and might not ever be released from prison.

The radical preacher was convicted of leading the group, which is prohibited under UK anti-terrorism laws, and promoting backing for it through virtual gatherings.

This means he will not be able to request to be released from prison on parole until he is older than 85 years.

Choudary looked surprised and stumbled on his feet in the courtroom when he was sentenced to at least 28 years at Woolwich Crown Court.

He was found guilty last week of leading a terror group following a complicated operation that involved detectives and investigators from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Judge Wall stated that Choudary's organization was a radical group that aimed to impose sharia law through violent methods on a global scale.

Choudary, a well-known extremist in the UK, was arrested following a global undercover operation that uncovered the continued presence of the banned al-Muhajiroun network he led, which was actively recruiting new members under a different name in North America in 2021.

Al-Muhajiroun, a group that first appeared in the late 1990s, has been connected to numerous terrorist incidents, with its supporters carrying out violent acts in various locations.

Choudary has been a key figure in the organization since its inception and took over as leader in 2014 when the group's founder was imprisoned in Lebanon.

The 57-year-old was imprisoned for his efforts to rebuild the network in 2021, following his release from a five-and-a-half year jail term for encouraging his followers to back Islamic State fighters in Syria.

After being released from that restriction, Choudary started conducting virtual classes with his supporters in North America.

However, he was unaware that his online speeches endorsing extremist beliefs had been secretly monitored by undercover agents from Canadian and American security agencies.

Judge Wall stated that Choudary had given around 30 talks in which he urged members of the "Islamic Thinkers Society" to engage in aggressive public speaking and violent acts. This group was actually a cover for the al-Muhajiroun network.

The judge mentioned that Choudary disguised these encouragements as teachings in Islamic theology. He also stated that Choudary was aware that members of the group would commit violent acts, even if he wasn't directly involved.

"The judge stated that organizations like yours make violence seem acceptable in the name of an ideological belief."

"They create divisions among people who could otherwise peacefully coexist. Your actions were highly blameworthy."

Looking back at the group's past, the judge mentioned that Choudary had followers, one of whom was Siddhartha Dhar, an important member, who had joined the Islamic State group in Syria and killed their prisoners.

In 2023, two brothers from Birmingham were arrested and sentenced to prison for confessing to their intentions of joining the Islamic State group's Afghanistan division. One of the brothers, Muhammad Hamza Heyder Khan, openly referred to Choudary as someone who motivated him.

The judge stated that they believe you will keep spreading your message of negativity and separation if given the chance in the future. They think nothing can stop you from continuing down that path.

Your ability to plan and speak effectively is what makes you a threat, rather than your tendency to use physical violence. I don't see a day when you won't be a danger in that regard.

Choudary claims that his connections to extremist organizations are a thing of the past during his police interview.

Choudary's partner in the crime, Canadian Khaled Hussein, was found guilty of being a part of al-Muhajiroun and was sentenced to five years in prison. He will also have to spend an extra year on a supervision program once he is released.

In the beginning of the trial, Paul Hynes KC, representing Choudary, stated that regardless of the jury's decision, al-Muhajiroun was not similar to al-Qaeda or Islamic State.

"He said that we are only left with complicated theological talks that are hard for people to understand."

"We believe the court does not have enough evidence to determine that Mr. Choudary was able to attract a large number of followers. The organization he led was ultimately unsuccessful."