Anjem Choudary

British citizen Anjem Choudary is an internationally designated Islamist cleric and convicted ISIS supporter. He is the co-founder of the banned al-Muhajiroun network, which the British government accuses of fomenting support for ISIS.Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian (London), September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis. For years before his 2014 arrest, Choudary’s Islamist speeches, anti-Western rhetoric, and declared support for foreign Islamist movements such as ISIS drew the attention of British authorities, who connected Choudary to multiple terrorist-related cases in the United Kingdom and Europe. Choudary was convicted in July 2016 of inviting support for ISIS.Jamie Grierson and Shiv Malik, “Preacher Anjem Choudary charged with encouraging support for Islamic State,” Guardian (London), August 5, 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/05/cleric-anjem-choudary-charged-with-encouraging-support-for-islamic-state; “Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman convicted of inviting support for Daesh,” Crown Prosecution Service, August 16, 2016, http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/anjem_choudary_and_mohammed_rahman_convicted_of_inviting_support_for_daesh/; Alexis Flynn and Jenny Gross, “U.K. Preacher Anjem Choudary Convicted of Inviting Support for Islamic State,” Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2016, http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-preacher-anjem-choudary-convicted-of-supporting-islamic-state-1471361122. Choudary returned to social media for a short time, but he was arrested again in July 2023 on multiple terrorism charges related to the continuation of his banned al-Muhajiroun terrorist network.Robert Mendick, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary arrested on suspicion of terror offence,” Telegraph (London), July 17, 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/17/hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-arrested-for-terror-offence/?s=09; “Men arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences,” Metropolitan Police, July 17, 2023, https://news.met.police.uk/news/men-arrested-on-suspicion-of-terrorism-offences-469915; “Radical UK Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary charged with three terrorist offences,” Reuters, July 24, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/radical-uk-islamist-preacher-anjem-choudary-charged-with-three-terrorist-2023-07-24/. On July 30, 2024, he was sentenced to life in prison.Dominici Casciani, “Anjem Choudary jailed for life,” BBC News, July 30, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3geqp8vx08o.

Choudary is the son of Pakistani immigrants and grew up in a secular home in London. As Choudary became more religious in the 1990s, he met Islamist cleric Omar Bakri Muhammad at a mosque in Woolrich, England.Robert Mendick, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary to be freed from jail despite remaining ‘genuinely dangerous,’” Telegraph (London), September 11, 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/11/notorious-hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-released-prison-despite/. Bakri Muhammad and Choudary founded al-Muhajiroun in 1996 after Bakri Muhammad was expelled from the international Islamist network Hizb ut-Tahrir. Al-Muhajiroun was modeled on a similar organization Bakri Muhammad created in Saudi Arabia in the 1980s.Robert Mendick, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary to be freed from jail despite remaining ‘genuinely dangerous,’” Telegraph (London), September 11, 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/11/notorious-hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-released-prison-despite/; Richard Watson, “Has al-Muhajiroun been underestimated?” BBC News, June 27, 2017, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40355491. Choudary and al-Muhajiroun have been linked to several notable extremists, and the group openly praised the 9/11 attacks.Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian (London), September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis. U.K. officials have noted that Choudary is a “deeply pernicious, destabilising influence.”Robert Mendick, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary to be freed from jail despite remaining ‘genuinely dangerous,’” Telegraph (London), September 11, 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/11/notorious-hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-released-prison-despite/. Among others, Choudary is believed to have influenced al-Muhajiroun members Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who in 2013 beheaded British soldier Fusilier Lee Rigby in southeast London.Chris Greenwood, Neil Sears, and Sian Boyle, “Muslim firebrand is arrested as police hold nine rabble-rousers,” Daily Mail (London), September 25, 2014, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2769098/BREAKING-NEWS-Nine-men-arrested-counter-terror-police-London-suspicion-encouraging-terrorism.html. Choudary also reportedly radicalized Abdul Latheef Mohamed Jameel, one of the nine suicide bombers who blew himself up in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019, killing more than 250 people during the Easter Sunday attacks. Jameel reportedly attended Choudary’s lectures and met with the propagandist while studying in London.Anbarasan Ethirajan, “Sri Lanka attacks: The family networks behind the bombings,” BBC News, May 11, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48218907; Alasdair Pal and Shihar Aneez, “The Western-educated bomber who botched Sri Lanka hotel attack,” Reuters, April 26, 2019, https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1S21PM. Islamist propagandist Abu Izzadeen at one point worked as an enforcer for al-Muhajiroun and a bodyguard for Baki Muhammad.Murray Wardrop, “Islamic hate preacher arrested on terrorism charge,” Telegraph (London), November 3, 2011,http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8865616/Islamic-hate-preacher-arrested-on-terrorism-charge.html. Choudary condemned Izzadeen’s February 2007 arrest as part of a “witch hunt” led by British Prime Minister Tony Blair.“UK police arrest outspoken Muslim,” CNN, February 8, 2007, http://web.archive.org/web/20070210045235/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/02/08/britain.arrest.reut/index.html.

Khuram Shazad Butt, one of the attackers in the June 3, 2017, London Bridge attacks, also allegedly belonged to al-Muhajiroun.Mark White, “London Bridge attackers were part of banned jihadi network,” Sky News, June 6, 2017, http://news.sky.com/story/london-bridge-attacker-khuram-butt-was-part-of-banned-jihadi-network-10906091. In a 2016 documentary on individuals in the Islamist group, Butt is seen holding a black banner after one extremist cleric proclaimed that it would soon hang over the British prime minister’s residence.Paul Cruickshank, “Who was London attacker Khuram Butt?” CNN, June 6, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/05/europe/khuram-butt-london-attacker/index.html. Butt also allegedly defended comments Choudary made in the aftermath of the Rigby murder. Butt reportedly confronted counter-extremism advocate Mohammed Shafiq, who criticized Choudary as a traitor.Mark White, “London Bridge attackers were part of banned jihadi network,” Sky News, June 6, 2017, http://news.sky.com/story/london-bridge-attacker-khuram-butt-was-part-of-banned-jihadi-network-10906091.

Choudary and Bakri Muhammad dissolved al-Muhajiroun in 2004 ahead of a pending government ban. They reorganized the group under various aliases, including Islam4UK, Muslims Against Crusades, Call to Submission, Islamic Path, London School of Sharia, the Saved Sect of Savior Sect, Ahl ul-Sunnah Wa al-Jamma, and Al Ghurabaa. In 2010, the U.K. government banned al-Muhajiroun and its other iterations.“Ministers ban suspected aliases of banned extremist group,” BBC News, June 26, 2014, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28049374; “Proscribed Terrorist Organizations,” Home Office, accessed August 16, 2016, 6, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/538297/20160715-Proscription-website-update.pdf; “London cops sweep up 9 terror suspects,” CBS News, September 25, 2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/london-cops-sweep-up-9-terror-suspects-anjem-choudary/; Eilish O’Gara, “Radical UK Preacher Anjem Choudary Charged With Inviting Support for ISIS,” Newsweek, August 5, 2015, http://europe.newsweek.com/radical-uk-preacher-anjem-choudary-charged-inviting-support-isis-331221. In May 2019, media reports surfaced that al-Muhajiroun was regrouping after the release of Choudary and other members from prison. Though Choudary remained under tight communications restrictions and surveillance, his release has inspired others to revive al-Muhajiroun, according to British authorities and former members of the group. By 2019, the network had reportedly begun meeting again in London, Luton, and the county of Bedfordshire.Ceylan Yeginsu, “One of U.K.’s Most Prolific Extremist Cells Is Regrouping,” New York Times, May 18, 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/18/world/europe/uk-extremist-cell-anjem-choudary.html.

British authorities arrested Choudary and his associate Mohammed Mizanur Rahman in September 2014 for suspected membership in ISIS.Martin Evans, “Anjem Choudary charged with supporting a terror organization,” Telegraph (London), August 5, 2015, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11784970/Anjem-Choudary-charged-with-supporting-a-terror-organisation.html; Daniel Sandford, “Choudary and Others Arrested In Islamist Terror Investigation,” BBC News, September 25, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29360297/; Vikram Dodd, “Anjem Choudary denies breaking terrorism laws,” Guardian (London), June 28, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/28/anjem-choudary-denies-breaking-terrorism-laws. Both men were charged in August 2015 with promoting support for ISIS between June 29, 2014, and March 6, 2015. The pair pleaded not guilty to the charge but were ultimately convicted in July 2016 of inviting support for ISIS.Jamie Grierson and Shiv Malik, “Preacher Anjem Choudary charged with encouraging support for Islamic State,” Guardian (London), August 5, 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/05/cleric-anjem-choudary-charged-with-encouraging-support-for-islamic-state; “Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman convicted of inviting support for Daesh,” Crown Prosecution Service, August 16, 2016, http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/anjem_choudary_and_mohammed_rahman_convicted_of_inviting_support_for_daesh/; Alexis Flynn and Jenny Gross, “U.K. Preacher Anjem Choudary Convicted of Inviting Support for Islamic State,” Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2016, http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-preacher-anjem-choudary-convicted-of-supporting-islamic-state-1471361122. In September 2016, Choudary and Rahman were each sentenced to five years and six months in prison.Stephen Castle, “Anjem Choudary Is Sentenced to Prison for Promoting ISIS,” New York Times, September 6, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/07/world/europe/anjem-choudary-sentenced-isis.html. Choudary was released on October 19, 2018, only halfway through his sentence due to British probation rules that allow for early release after the completion of half a sentence.Martin Bentham, “Release of Islamist hate preacher Anjem Choudary next month ‘is danger for us all’, prisons minister warns,” Evening Standard (London), September 11, 2018, https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/release-of-hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-next-month-is-danger-for-us-all-prisons-minister-warns-a3932731.html.

Days before his October 2018 release, the U.N. Security Council added Choudary to its al-Qaeda and ISIS sanctions list, freezing all of his financial assets.“SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO RESOLUTIONS 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) AND 2253 (2015) CONCERNING ISIL (DA'ESH) AL-QAIDA AND ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUALS GROUPS UNDERTAKINGS AND ENTITIES,” U.N. Security Council, accessed October 18, 2018, https://www.un.org/sc/suborg/en/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list/summaries/individual/anjem-choudary. Choudary’s designation was reportedly by request of the British government, which also added Choudary to its Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets prior to his release.“Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets in the UK,” Gov.UK, last updated October 17, 2018, http://hmt-sanctions.s3.amazonaws.com/sanctionsconlist.htm; Lizzie Dearden, “Anjem Choudary's assets frozen days before prison release for supporting Isis,” Independent (London), October 17, 2018, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/anjem-choudary-isis-prison-release-islam-terrorist-restrictions-asset-freeze-un-sanctions-a8587311.html. On October 19, 2018, Choudary was remanded to a probation hostel in London for six months, after which he may return to his family’s London home under strict surveillance. In the hostel, Choudary will be under 24-hour police surveillance and required to wear a GPS tracker. Through the remainder of Choudary’s sentence, British authorities imposed what are reportedly the most stringent living conditions ever levied on a British citizen.Robert Mendick, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary is banned from speaking to children on jail release,” Telegraph (London), October 15, 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/15/hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-banned-speaking-children-jail-release/; Laura FitzPatrick and Patrick Sawyer, “Anjem Choudary, notorious Islamist hate preacher, a free man after release from prison,” Telegraph (London), October 19, 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/19/anjem-choudary-pictured-free-man-released-prison/. A violation of these condition would likely result in Choudary’s return to prison.“Anjem Choudary: Radical preacher released from prison,” BBC News, October 19, 2018, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45911160. In addition to standard probation rules on regular visits with a probation officer and avoiding further legal infractions, Choudary is:

The U.K. government has also reportedly arranged for additional security around Choudary to prevent attacks from right-wing extremists angered by his release. In all, Choudary’s security arrangements were reportedly expected to cost £2 million per year.Laura FitzPatrick and Patrick Sawyer, “Anjem Choudary, notorious Islamist hate preacher, a free man after release from prison,” Telegraph (London), October 19, 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/19/anjem-choudary-pictured-free-man-released-prison/; Lizzie Dearden, “Anjem Choudary: How Islamist preacher sparked rise of Tommy Robinson and the far-right,” Independent (London), October 18, 2018, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/anjem-choudary-tommy-robinson-islam-preacher-far-right-edl-luton-protests-islamists-terror-a8589236.html.

Among his controversial views, Choudary has advocated for Islamists and would-be jihadists to live off of British welfare, as Choudary has done with his wife and four children in East London. Choudary has reportedly referred to this practice as the “jihad seeker’s allowance.”Robert Johnson, “Muslim Preacher Tells Followers Getting Welfare Cash For Holy Wars Is Easy And Right [VIDEO],” Business Insider, February 18, 2013, http://www.businessinsider.com/anjem-choudary-muslim-preacher-explains-government-assistance-to-fund-jihad-holy-war-2013-2. In late 2014, however, Choudary told an interviewer that he would immigrate with his family to Syria if the British government would allow him to keep his passport.Clarissa Ward, “Campaigning for ISIS in the West,” 60 Minutes, November 2, 2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/recruiting-for-isis-60-minutes/.

Following ISIS’s declaration of a caliphate in June 2014, both Choudary and Rahman pledged allegiance to the ISIS’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi over a Skype call with a convicted terrorist in Indonesia, according to authorities.Alexis Flynn and Jenny Gross, “U.K. Preacher Anjem Choudary Convicted of Inviting Support for Islamic State,” Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2016, http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-preacher-anjem-choudary-convicted-of-supporting-islamic-state-1471361122; “Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman convicted of inviting support for Daesh,” Crown Prosecution Service, August 16, 2016, http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/anjem_choudary_and_mohammed_rahman_convicted_of_inviting_support_for_daesh/. Choudary then began to support ISIS over social media, as encouraged by his associate Abu Rumaysah, who left Britain in late 2014 to join ISIS in Syria.Jamie Grierson, Vikram Dodd, and Jason Rodrigues, “Anjem Choudary convicted of supporting Islamic State,” Guardian (London), August 16, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/16/anjem-choudary-convicted-of-supporting-islamic-state. In a September 2014 interview with London’s Guardian, Choudary referred to Baghdadi as “the caliph of all Muslims.”Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian (London), September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis.

Choudary has supported terror attacks during appearances on international television. In January 2015, Choudary was featured on the Fox News show Hannity and defended the Islamist attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris.“Radical imam Anjem Choudary on Charlie Hebdo attack,” Fox News, January 8, 2015, http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2015/01/08/radical-imam-anjem-choudary-charlie-hebdo-attack/. After the May 3, 2015, attack on a “Draw Muhammad” contest in Garland, Texas, Choudary appeared on Fox News and told contest organizer Pamela Gellar she should have expected a violent response.“Radical Imam: Pamela Gellar Deserves to Die,” Fox News, May 6, 2015, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/recruiting-for-isis-60-minutes/.

Source: Fox News
Source: Fox News

Choudary has encouraged British Muslims to refrain from participation in U.K. politics. Preceding May 2015 parliamentary elections, Choudary launched a campaign on social media called #StayMuslimDontVote. The campaign sought to warn Muslims that voting in man-made elections is a sin under Islamic law.“Radical Imam: Pamela Gellar Deserves to Die,” Fox News, May 6, 2015, http://nation.foxnews.com/2015/05/06/radical-imam-pamela-geller-deserves-die.

During Choudary’s trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Choudary had argued online for Muslims to pledge allegiance to ISIS’s Baghdadi. According to Commander Dean Haydon of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command, Choudary and Rahman had developed careers as spokesmen for extremists, but always avoided crossing the line into criminal speech. “Their recent speeches and the oath of allegiance were a turning point for the police — at last, we had the evidence that they had stepped over the line and we could prove they were actively encouraging support of ISIS,” he said.Stephen Castle, “Anjem Choudary Is Sentenced to Prison for Promoting ISIS,” New York Times, September 6, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/07/world/europe/anjem-choudary-sentenced-isis.html.

The U.S. government sanction-designated Choudary in March 2017. According to the U.S. Department of State, Choudary has expressed a desire to continue promoting ISIS’s cause—and even recruit for the terror group—from prison.“State Department Terrorist Designations of El Shafee Elsheikh, Anjem Choudary, Sami Bouras, Shane Dominic Crawford, and Mark John Taylor,” U.S. Department of State, March 30, 2017, https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/03/269306.htm. Ahead of Choudary’s October 2018 release, U.K. Prison Minister Rory Stewart called him “genuinely dangerous” and lamented that the government could not circumvent the law that would set him free.Robert Mendick, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary to be freed from jail despite remaining ‘genuinely dangerous,’” Telegraph (London), September 11, 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/11/notorious-hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-released-prison-despite/. Other government sources reportedly condemned Choudary as a coward radicalizing others to become foreign fighters while refusing to fight himself.Laura FitzPatrick and Patrick Sawyer, “Anjem Choudary, notorious Islamist hate preacher, a free man after release from prison,” Telegraph (London), October 19, 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/19/anjem-choudary-pictured-free-man-released-prison/; Lizzie Dearden, “Anjem Choudary: How Islamist preacher sparked rise of Tommy Robinson and the far-right,” Independent (London), October 18, 2018, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/anjem-choudary-tommy-robinson-islam-preacher-far-right-edl-luton-protests-islamists-terror-a8589236.html.

On July 19, 2021, more than 20 government restrictions on Choudary expired. Among the expired restriction was a ban on public speaking. Later that day, Choudary held a press conference in a park near his east London home, during which he proclaimed his innocence and labeled himself a “prisoner of faith” who could not receive a fair trial in the United Kingdom.Max Stephens and Gareth Davies, Anjem Choudary free to preach again as he gives first public statement since release from prison,” Telegraph (London), July 19, 2021, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/19/anjem-choudary-free-preach-gives-first-public-statement-since/. He went on to condemn the criminalization of people for their opinions, referring to himself as a normal Muslim who never had any ties to extremism. He further labeled the government-imposed restrictions on him after his release as “draconian.”Jonathan Reilly, “HATE SPEECH Terror preacher Anjem Choudary calls for release of terrorist HOURS after his ban on public speaking ends,” Sun (London), July 19, 2021, https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/15633294/anajem-choudary-release-terrorist-ban-public-speaking/. Choudary also called for the release of Bakri Muhammad from Lebanese prison.Jonathan Reilly, “HATE SPEECH Terror preacher Anjem Choudary calls for release of terrorist HOURS after his ban on public speaking ends,” Sun (London), July 19, 2021, https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/15633294/anajem-choudary-release-terrorist-ban-public-speaking/. Choudary created new Twitter and Facebook accounts shortly after the expiration of the government restrictions. He also created a new “official blog.” Choudary posted his first essay on his blog on July 27, calling for Bakri Muhammad’s release.“Press Release,” Anjem Choudary Official Blog, July 27, 2021. On July 28, Twitter permanently suspended Choudary. Facebook reportedly followed on July 29. Twitter claimed Choudary had been banned for violating the rules of its violent organizations policy. Choudary told Sky News he did not understand why he had been banned as, he claimed, his posts had been “quite moderate.”James Gant, “Anjem Choudary is BANNED from Facebook and Twitter just FIVE days after the Islamic hate preacher set up social media accounts,” Daily Mail (London), last update July 30, 2021, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9840649/Social-media-accounts-radical-preacher-Anjem-Choudary-suspended.html; Mark White, “Anjem Choudary: Islamist hate preacher banned from Twitter,” Sky News, July 29, 2021, https://news.sky.com/story/anjem-choudary-islamist-hate-preacher-banned-from-twitter-12367411. Choudary has also used the Facebook-owned encrypted messaging service WhatsApp to send essays on sharia and promote his new social media accounts. On August 2, Choudary created an Instagram account under the handle “anjemchoudary1967.” Instagram suspended him within several hours of the account’s creation. According to a company spokeswoman, Choudary “was removed from our platform for violating our Dangerous Individuals & Organisations policies. Under these rules, we ban organisations or individuals that proclaim a violent mission or engage in organised hate or violence.”William Cole, “Islamist hate preacher Anjem Choudary is kicked off Instagram days after he was banned from Twitter and Facebook,” Daily Mail (London), August 3, 2021, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9855415/Islamist-hate-preacher-Anjem-Choudary-kicked-Instagram.html. On August 4, the professional networking website LinkedIn banned Choudary hours after he created a profile.Jacob Thorburn, “Now Anjem Choudary is kicked off LinkedIn: Islamist hate preacher fails in bid to join social media network after being booted from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,” Daily Mail (London), August 4, 2021, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9860841/Preacher-Anjem-Choudary-joins-LinkedIn-kicked-Facebook-Twitter-Instagram.html. On August 10, Choudary began posting essays to a Blogspot website called Shariah is the Future. While a second “official blog” went offline in March, Choudary has continued to use the Blogspot platform to post essays assailing democracy and Western values as un-Islamic.Shariah is the Future, accessed April 25, 2022. Blogspot is the subdomain of Google’s Blogger content management system.

In mid-August 2021, Telegram shut down Choudary’s channel, but he soon after created a second channel on the platform called “Islam is the Answer.” Choudary has used the platform to call attention to what he calls the “plight” of Bakri Muhammad and call for his release from prison in Lebanon.Anjem Choudary, Telegram channel, August 20, 2021. In another post, Choudary penned an open letter to the Taliban after the group completed its violent takeover of Afghanistan earlier that month. Choudary called on the Taliban to establish a government based on sharia and reject any foreign interference, including from the United Nations and other human-rights organizations. He further called for the abolishment of Afghanistan itself and for the Taliban to establish an Islamic caliphate that would shut down all non-sharia courts and implement violent punishments as demanded under strict sharia, including cutting the hands off of thieves and stoning murderers. According to Choudary, the Taliban’s willingness to implement sharia would demonstrate whether Afghanistan was truly an Islamic state or “just another country choosing Islam to be part of its name that it wishes everyone to call it by.”Anjem Choudary, Telegram channel, August 20, 2021. On October 14, 2021, Choudary created the fourth iteration of his Telegram channel.Anjem Choudary, Telegram channel, accessed October 18, 2021. He has continued to use the platform to call for the release of Islamists such as Bakri Muhammad and Abu Hamza al-Masri, who was convicted and sentenced to life in the United States in 2015 on terrorism charges.“Radical cleric Abu Hamza jailed for life by US court,” BBC News, January 9, 2015, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30754959. In an October 15, 2021, press release on his Telegram account, Choudary accused the United States of consciously deciding to allow Abu Hamza to die in prison.Anjem Choudary, Telegram channel, October 15, 2021.

In September 2021, Choudary issued a call on his Telegram channel for the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a suspected al-Qaeda terrorist imprisoned in the United States. He wrote, “The obligation upon us is to either free her physically or to ransom her or to exchange her.”Annabelle Timsit, Souad Mekhennet, and Terrence McCoy, “Who is Aafia Siddiqui? Texas synagogue hostage-taker allegedly sought release of ‘Lady al-Qaeda,’” Washington Post, January 16, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/01/16/aafia-siddiqui-texas-synagogue-hostages/. On January 15, 2022, British national Malik Faisal Akram took four hostages at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, during Saturday morning services. Akram reportedly demanded to speak with Siddiqui. All four hostages escaped unharmed and Akram was killed later that night.Jake Bleiberg, “Ranting man takes hostages at Texas synagogue,” Associated Press, January 15, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/religion-texas-fort-worth-70bf98670cb880156cf5e1f1e4e08dcd; Alaa Elassar, Michelle Watson, and Alanne Orjoux, “FBI identifies hostage-taker at Texas synagogue,” CNN, January 16, 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/16/us/colleyville-texas-hostage-situation-sunday/index.html. Investigators suspect Akram may have been motivated by a desire to have Siddiqui released. Congregation Beth Israel is 24 miles from the Federal Medical Center, Carswell, in Fort Worth, where Siddiqui is incarcerated. Akram’s relationship to Choudary is as-yet unclear and the FBI continues to investigate the influence of Siddiqui’s case on Akram.Zia ur-Rehman and Michael Levenson, “Officials Investigating Synagogue Attacker’s Link to 2010 Terror Case,” New York Times, January 17, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/17/world/europe/texas-synagogue-hostages-aafia-siddiqui.html. The day after Akram’s attack, Choudary renewed his calls online for a “Twitter storm” demanding Siddiqui’s release.“British Pro-ISIS Preacher Anjem Choudary Uses Texas Synagogue Hostage Incident As Opportunity To Launch New Twitter Storm Demanding Release Of Aafia Siddiqui,” MEMRI, January 19, 2022, https://www.memri.org/cjlab/british-pro-isis-preacher-anjem-choudary-uses-texas-synagogue-hostage-incident-opportunity. Choudary called for a scheduled Twitter storm on January 21 using the hashtags “#free_sister_aafia” and “#FreeTheAseer” at specific times in New York, London, Istanbul, Riyadh, Karachi, and Sydney.Anjem Choudary, “The Tragic Truth About Aafia Siddiqui!,” Anjem Choudary Official Blog, January 20, 2022.

Choudary has continued to seek out social media platforms. On August 30, 2021, the Daily Mail reported Choudary had joined Pinterest, Snapchat, and TikTok. Pointing to viral videos of people singing and dancing, Choudary told the Daily Mail there is a lot of “rubbish” on TikTok and he would use the platform “Islamically.”Abu Taher, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary boasts he is joining TikTok sparking fears he will target children with vile Islamist propaganda,” Daily Mail (London), last updated August 30, 2021, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9936571/Hate-preacher-Anjem-Choudary-boasts-joining-TikTok.html. Choudary boasted to the Daily Mail how easy it is to join social media and how he has “them all up my sleeve” and is “signed up to all of them… I’m on everything.”Abu Taher, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary boasts he is joining TikTok sparking fears he will target children with vile Islamist propaganda,” Daily Mail (London), last updated August 30, 2021, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9936571/Hate-preacher-Anjem-Choudary-boasts-joining-TikTok.html. By October 25, 2021, the fourth iteration of Choudary’s Telegram account had been deleted.Anjem Choudary, Telegram channel, accessed October 25, 2021. Nonetheless, Choudary has boasted of creating new accounts, while his followers continue to spread his messages to social media platforms from which he is personally banned. In Choudary’s October 15 Telegram essay on Abu Hamza, for example, he called for a “Twitter storm” in support of the cleric.Anjem Choudary, Telegram channel, October 15, 2021. An October 2021 study by the United Kingdom’s Community Security Trust found Choudary’s name mentioned more than 43,000 times on Twitter since the expiration of the government restrictions.Lizzie Dearden, “Anjem Choudary orchestrating online campaigns in support of extremists despite Isis conviction,” Independent (London), October 24, 2021, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/anjem-choudary-twitter-telegram-prison-b1943749.html. At the end of October 2021, Choudary created a channel on the video-sharing site Odysee. By the beginning of February 2022, he had posted more than 60 videos to the channel, though he had only nine followers.Anjem Choudary - Collection, Odysee, accessed February 7, 2022. Choudary’s website also hosts issues of Al-Aseer (“The Prisoner”), an English-language monthly magazine highlighting imprisoned jihadists.“Al-Aseer Magazine,” Anjem Choudary Official Blog, accessed February 7, 2022. In the magazine’s first issue in November 2021, Choudary wrote an essay calling the imprisonment of radical clerics a “humiliation” for Muslims as their only crime was “to believe in Allah.”Anjem Choudary, “The Tragedy of Muslim Prisoners In Our Times!,” Al-Aseer, November 2021, 3-4. The magazine’s second issue featured an essay on Siddiqui. Authorities suspect the magazine may have influenced Colleyville attacker Akram.Isaac Crowson, “‘ACT OF TERRORISM’ Brit hostage-taker who stormed Texas synagogue ‘influenced by hate preacher Anjem Choudary,’” Sun (London), January 17, 2022, https://www.the-sun.com/news/4479894/brit-hostage-texas-synagogue-influenced-by-anjem-choudary/.

Choudary’s so-called official blog was offline as of early March 2022, but he continued to post to his Blogspot-hosted Shariah is the Future website while seeking other ways to raise his public profile. On March 4, Choudary made his first public appearance at a demonstration since his release from prison when he attended a protest outside of Saudi Arabia’s embassy in London. Choudary reportedly attended to demand the release of prisoners and to demand Saudi Arabia adopt a strict form of sharia.Isaac Crowson, “ON THE STREETS Hate preacher Anjem Choudary attends demo after strict restrictions on his movements end,” Sun (London), March 5, 2022, https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17851410/anjem-choudary-attends-demo/. Two days later, he reportedly spoke about filing a complaint with London’s Metropolitan Police for the return of more than 200 personal items confiscated from him in 2011. Among the items Choudary demanded back were a PlayStation and two Nintendo consoles. One source told the Sun Choudary was “fuming.”Isaac Crowson, “‘FUMING’ Hate preacher Anjem Choudary moans as cops kept his gaming consoles seized in raids,” Sun (London), March 6, 2022, https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17862944/anjem-choudary-gaming-console-not-given-back/. Tory parliamentarian Nigel Mills called it “ironic” Choudary was “lobbying for the return of Western luxuries such as games consoles when he hates the West.”Isaac Crowson, “‘FUMING’ Hate preacher Anjem Choudary moans as cops kept his gaming consoles seized in raids,” Sun (London), March 6, 2022, https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17862944/anjem-choudary-gaming-console-not-given-back/.

As of early May 2022, Choudary’s Telegram channel had once again been deleted. However, Choudary had created another “official blog” on Blogspot. His new official blog mirrored his Shariah is the Future site in design and content with essays and videos assailing Western values. Content on the sites dated back to March 2022. Both sites remained online as of May 10, 2022, despite Blogger’s ban on hate speech. Blogger defines hate speech as content that “promotes or condones violence against or has the primary purpose of inciting hatred against an individual or group on the basis of their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, nationality, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or any other characteristic that is associated with systemic discrimination or marginalization.”“Blogger Content Policy,” Blogger.com, accessed May 10, 2022, https://www.blogger.com/content-policy. Both Blogspot sites were active as of May 10, 2022, but had been removed as of May 12.

While Choudary’s essays do not specifically call for violence, they debase non-Muslims and call for the elimination of non-Islamic ways of life. Choudary declares on his blog “Islam is superior and will never be surpassed,” as well as “shar’iah is the solution.”Anjem Choudary Official Blog, accessed May 10, 2022. In his biography on his sites, Choudary declares his devotion to seeing “the domination of the world by Islam.”Anjem Choudary Official Blog, accessed May 10, 2022. Choudary expresses his hope to one day see the United States, Europe, China, the United Kingdom, Russia, and the rest of the world “governed by and under the authority of the Muslims implementing Islamic Law,” and turning away from “the false Gods of Democracy and Freedom.”Anjem Choudary Official Blog, accessed May 10, 2022.

Evidence of Choudary’s ongoing influence continues to emerge. On October 15, 2021, Ali Harbi Ali stabbed to death British parliamentarian David Amess.Peter Stubley, “Ali Harbi Ali: What we know about suspect in murder of Sir David Amess MP,” Independent (London), October 18, 2021, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/amess-murder-mp-ali-harbi-ali-b1939934.html; Peter Nicholls and Ben Makori, “UK PM Johnson visits church where lawmaker stabbed to death,” Reuters, October 16, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-johnson-visits-church-where-lawmaker-was-stabbed-death-2021-10-16/. Ali had reportedly radicalized online and began watching Choudary’s lectures on YouTube while in high school. Friends allegedly warned Ali that Choudary was an extremist who hated the West, but Ali continued to watch Choudary’s videos.Isaac Crowson, Tom Wells, Nick Pisa, and Mike Sullivan, “TWISTED BY HATE Sir David Amess murder suspect ‘radicalised after watching YouTube videos of hate preacher Anjem Choudary,’” Sun (London), last updated October 18, 2021, https://www.the-sun.com/news/3876488/david-amess-murder-suspect-radicalise-anjem-choudary/. The day after Amess’s murder, Choudary suggested Amess had been killed for holding pro-Israel views. He emphasized he did not condone the murder, however.Abul Taher and Dominik Lemanski, “Preacher Anjem Choudary sparks fury by suggesting Sir David Amess may have been killed for being 'pro-Israel,’” Daily Mail (London), last updated October 17, 2021, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10099513/Preacher-sparks-fury-suggesting-Sir-David-Amess-killed-pro-Israel.html. On April 11, 2022, London’s Central Criminal Court found Ali guilty of murder and preparing terrorist acts. During the trial, Ali claimed he targeted Sir David because of his votes in favor of airstrikes in Syria. On April 13, Ali was sentenced to life imprisonment.Holly Bancroft, “Sir David Amess: Ali Harbi Ali given whole life sentence for murder and planning terror attacks on other MPs,” Independent, April 13, 2022, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/sir-david-amess-ali-harbi-ali-murder-terror-attack-b2056986.html; “ISIS supporter found guilty of killing British lawmaker David Amess,” Associated Press, April 11, 2022, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/britain-david-amess-killing-verdict-1.6415564. Following Ali’s sentencing, Choudary blamed Amess’s death on the United Kingdom’s refusal to allow Ali to leave the country to join ISIS.Dominik Lemanski, “David Amess would be alive if killer had joined IS, claims hate preacher,” Express (London), April 17, 2022, https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1597194/sir-david-amess-murder-ISIS-Anjem-Choudary-Ali-Harbi-Ali-syria-latest. In an online blogpost, Choudary accused the United Kingdom of radicalizing Ali through its “foreign policy in Syria and Iraq.”https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18286915/anjem-choudary-blames-britain-radicalising-mp-david-amesss-killer/. Choudary also wrote the media would “paint Ali as a monster.”Isaac Crowson, “‘DISGRACEFUL’ Hate preacher Anjem Choudary blames Britain for ‘radicalising’ MP David Amess’s killer,” Sun (London), April 17, 2022, https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18286915/anjem-choudary-blames-britain-radicalising-mp-david-amesss-killer/.

After the end of government restrictions on his speech and movement, Choudary resumed meeting with past associates. In November 2021, Choudary admitted to London’s Express newspaper to meeting with Abu Izzadeen and other former associates from al-Muhajiroun. Referring to Izzadeen as a “close friend,” Choudary told the newspaper he would continue meeting with former associates and speaking out about a “clash of civilisations” between Islamic and Western culture.Dominik Lemanski, “Fears of reinstating terrorism group as extremist leaves prison and meets old friends, Express (London), November 28, 2021, https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1528390/terror-muslim-group-abu-izzadeen-trevor-brooks. Izzadeen told the paper he and Choudary would continue to “come out in society and challenge the dominant thoughts and ideas.”Dominik Lemanski, “Fears of reinstating terrorism group as extremist leaves prison and meets old friends, Express (London), November 28, 2021, https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1528390/terror-muslim-group-abu-izzadeen-trevor-brooks. Referring to Choudary as his “close brother,” Izzadeen declared they both want “to offer an Islamic alternative.”Dominik Lemanski, “Fears of reinstating terrorism group as extremist leaves prison and meets old friends, Express (London), November 28, 2021, https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1528390/terror-muslim-group-abu-izzadeen-trevor-brooks.

While Choudary continued to meet with his former colleagues and distribute propaganda online, he also attempted to overturn his conviction. In October 2017, London’s Court of Appeals rejected an appeal of Choudary’s conviction. The court ruled Choudary does not have “arguable” ground of appeal, and that his conviction was not “arguably unsafe.”George Keate, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary cannot appeal Isis conviction,” Times (London), October 19, 2017, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-cannot-appeal-isis-conviction-mt79p5wfk. In late January 2022, Choudary filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to overturn his 2016 conviction. Choudary told London’s Express newspaper his appeal was about “putting the facts of his case in the public domain.”Domink Lemanski, “‘Does he hold us for fools!?’ Anjem Choudary lodges new appeal with European Court,” Express (London), January 30, 2022, https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1558011/anjem-choudary-appeal-european-court-human-rights. He claimed there “was no support, verbal or otherwise for the Islamic State.”Domink Lemanski, “‘Does he hold us for fools!?’ Anjem Choudary lodges new appeal with European Court,” Express (London), January 30, 2022, https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1558011/anjem-choudary-appeal-european-court-human-rights.

Choudary returned to Twitter on October 29, 2022, creating a new account under the handle @THEanjemC. His first post announced his return and called for the global implementation of sharia. He subsequently called for the release of Muslim prisoners, including Siddiqui and Bakri Muhammad. He also called for the United Kingdom’s King Charles III and all other Christians to convert to Islam. He praised the value of sharia over democracy and communism, while warning thieves and adulterers would have their hands cut off after the implementation of sharia.Anjem Choudary, Twitter account, accessed November 1, 2022, https://twitter.com/THEanjemC. In an October 29 tweet, he labeled the United States the world’s biggest terrorist regime.Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, October 29, 2022, 3:47 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1586444579359686657. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Choudary called on billionaire Elon Musk, who had earlier that month completed his purchase of Twitter, to stay true to his pledge to protect free speech by allowing Choudary to remain on the platform.Darren Boyle, “Hate cleric Anjem Choudary returns to Twitter after ban with new account, telling Elon Musk: ‘If you’re true to your word, I’ll keep preaching online,’” Daily Mail (London), October 29, 2022, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11369737/Hate-cleric-Anjem-Choudary-returns-Twitter-praising-Elon-Musks-free-speech-rule.html. After returning to Twitter, Choudary posted antisemitic, anti-Christian, and other hateful posts. In a November 2 tweet, Choudary declared Islamophobia is “normal from Jews and Christians,” warning “when they are happy with you, you need to worry” and asking followers if they stopped “believing in Jihad or Khilafah or the Shari’ah.”Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, November 2, 2022, 2:23 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1587873066805239808. In a November 3 tweet, Choudary labeled non-Muslims as “kufr,” infidels, with whom there can be no compromise.Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, November 3, 3:37 a.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1588072898790674432. A November 4 tweet labeled Jews and Christians as apostates who believed in falsehoods.Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, November 4, 4:15 a.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1588444759097384960. Choudary’s account was suspended over the weekend of November 5-6. Twitter cited multiple reports of violations of its hateful conduct policy by Choudary. According to Twitter, Choudary is not permitted to create new accounts.Twitter violation report, November 6, 2022.

In his 2023 memoir Spare, the United Kingdom’s Prince Harry wrote about killing 25 Taliban militants while serving in Afghanistan between 2012 and 2013. The prince expressed neither shame nor satisfaction over his actions, instead comparing the deaths to removing pieces from a chessboard. The comparison sparked accusations of cruelty and protests in Afghanistan on January 8.“Harry’s new memoir draws anger and protests in Afghanistan,” Associated Press, January 8, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-nato-politics-taliban-prince-harry-603f12d84207e994dc16e556a556960d. In response to Harry’s claims, Choudary penned a new blog post entitled, “Muslim killer ‘Prince’ Harry Once Again Shows His True Colors!” Choudary accused Harry of callousness for comparing the deaths to chess pieces, calling for Muslims and non-Muslims everywhere to “do all they can to end the occupation of foreign forces from all Muslim countries, including Syria, Iraq and those in North Africa where many British soldiers are deployed.”Martin Evans, “Anjem Choudary calls Duke of Sussex a ‘Muslim killer’ and calls on jihadis to retaliate,” Telegraph (London), January 8, 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/01/08/anjem-choudary-calls-duke-sussex-muslim-killer-calls-jihadis/. Choudary also pointed to the British royal family’s “long and dark history of supporting the occupation of Muslim land, the usurpation of its resources and the oppression of Muslims.”Martin Evans, “Anjem Choudary calls Duke of Sussex a ‘Muslim killer’ and calls on jihadis to retaliate,” Telegraph (London), January 8, 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/01/08/anjem-choudary-calls-duke-sussex-muslim-killer-calls-jihadis/.

At dawn on July 17, 2023, police raided Choudary’s east London home and arrested him on terrorism charges. Seven hours later, counterterrorism authorities at London’s Heathrow Airport arrested a Canadian national upon his arrival from Canada. Choudary and the second suspect were charged with membership in a banned organization. In addition to the arrests, police searched three other addresses in London.Robert Mendick, “Hate preacher Anjem Choudary arrested on suspicion of terror offence,” Telegraph (London), July 17, 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/17/hate-preacher-anjem-choudary-arrested-for-terror-offence/?s=09; “Men arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences,” Metropolitan Police, July 17, 2023, https://news.met.police.uk/news/men-arrested-on-suspicion-of-terrorism-offences-469915. On July 24, police announced Choudary had been charged with membership in a proscribed organization, directing a terrorist organization, and addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organization—all in relation to al-Muhajiroun. Police identified the Canadian national as Khaled Hussein.“Radical UK Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary charged with three terrorist offences,” Reuters, July 24, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/radical-uk-islamist-preacher-anjem-choudary-charged-with-three-terrorist-2023-07-24/. On August 4, Choudary and Hussein appeared via video link for a preliminary hearing at London’s Central Criminal Court, also known as Old Bailey. Choudary and Hussein spoke only to confirm their names and dates of birth. The court ordered Choudary and Hussein to both remain in custody until the trial. Emily Pennink, “May trial set for Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary,” Independent (London), August 4, 2023, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/anjem-choudary-islamist-london-ilford-heathrow-b2387773.html.

Choudary is held in custody at HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire. Hussein is held at HMP Wormwood Scrubs in west London. On March 25, 2024, Choudary appeared via video link at the Old Bailey. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of encouraging support for al-Muhajiroun while addressing meetings of the Islamic Thinkers Society.Matt Drake, “slamist preacher Anjem Choudary, 57, denies encouraging support for banned militant network Al-Muhajiroun as he appears at the Old Bailey,” Daily Mail (London), March 25, 2024, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13236627/anjem-choudary-court-alm-khaled-hussain.html. Hussein also appeared via video link. Both men pleaded not guilty to membership in a banned organization.“Radical British preacher Anjem Choudary pleads not guilty to terrorism charges,” Associated Press, March 25, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/britain-radical-preacher-anjem-choudary-london-court-d8e78b054aafc2681358389519374300. Choudary and Hussein’s trial began at London’s Woolwich Crown Court on June 13, 2024. Prosecutors argued that Choudary took on a “caretaker” role for al-Muhajiroun just months after legal restrictions on him expired in July 2021.Rebecca Camber, “Radical preacher Anjem Choudary, 57, took on 'caretaker role' at terrorist group Al-Muhajiroun after being released from jail for supporting Islamic State, court hears,” Daily Mail (London), June 13, 2024, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13527247/radical-preacher-anjem-choudary-accused-caretaker-role-terrorist-role-court.html. Choudary admitted he was one of three original members of al-Muhajiroun alongside Bakri Muhammad. Choudary admitted that he had endorsed ISIS in 2014 but claimed he never joined the terror group. He also said that prior to al-Muhajiroun being banned, he had sought as much publicity as possible for the group.Duncan Gardham, “Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary compares himself to Kevin Keegan at terror trial,” Sky News, July 1, 2024, https://news.sky.com/story/islamist-preacher-anjem-choudary-compares-himself-to-kevin-keegan-at-terror-trial-13162037. During the trial, Choudary also admitted to the court that a joke he made about the September 11 attacks in 2022 was “inappropriate.”Poppy Atkinson Gibson, “Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary tells court that a joke he made about 9/11 during lecture on the anniversary of terror attack was ‘inappropriate,’” Daily Mail (London), July 2, 2024, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13593291/Islamist-preacher-Anjem-Choudary-tells-court-joke-9-11-lecture-anniversary-terror-attack-inappropriate.html.Choudary’s legal representatives argued that al-Muhajiroun was a failed organization that relied on dense theological lectures and was incomparable to al-Qaeda or ISIS.Dominici Casciani, “Anjem Choudary jailed for life,” BBC News, July 30, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3geqp8vx08o.

On July 30, 2024, Choudary was found guilty of directing al-Muhajiroun and encouraging support for the terror group through online meetings. He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 28 years. Hussein was convicted of being a member of al-Muhajiroun. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with an additional year of supervision after his release.Dominici Casciani, “Anjem Choudary jailed for life,” BBC News, July 30, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3geqp8vx08o.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
ISIS
Read Threat Report
Type(s) of Organization:
Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
Position(s):
Propagandist, Islamist preacher, cleric

ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.

Extremist entity
Al-Muhajiroun
Type(s) of Organization:
Islamist transnational political organization
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Sunni
Position(s):
Founding member, propagandist, Islamist preacher, cleric

ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.

  • Designations
  • Rhetoric

United States

United Kingdom

United Nations

Jan. 8, 2023

Blog post in response to the United Kingdom’s Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare:

“The latest revelations from Harry that he murdered 25 Muslims in Afghanistan followed by his comment that he has no remorse and that he just saw these human beings as ‘chess pieces’ tells us everything we need to know about the Royal family and their thinking about Islam and Muslims.

“In reality, the British Royal family has a long and dark history of supporting the occupation of Muslim land, the usurpation of its resources and the oppression of Muslims.

“The latest honest outpouring from Harry should serve not just as evidence of the motives and objectives behind the British occupation of Afghanistan but also as a wake-up call for Muslims and non-Muslims to do all they can to end the occupation of foreign forces from all Muslim countries, including Syria, Iraq and those in North Africa where many British soldiers are deployed.”Martin Evans, “Anjem Choudary calls Duke of Sussex a ‘Muslim killer’ and calls on jihadis to retaliate,” Telegraph (London), January 8, 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/01/08/anjem-choudary-calls-duke-sussex-muslim-killer-calls-jihadis/.

Nov. 4, 2022

“A call for INTERFAITH is to unite Islam, the truth, with what the Jews & Christians believe in, which is falsehood. It is one of the biggest plots against Islam today. The verdict on it is it’s an innovation at the belief level, a call for kufr & misguidance & leads to APOSTASY!” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary , Twitter post, November 4, 4:15 a.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1588444759097384960.

Nov. 3, 2022

“There can be no compromise between Islam & non-Islam (kufr). Even if the US or UK authorities said that Muslims can govern by Islam for a year and then they will govern by democracy for a year, this would still be rejected and anathema to Allah and his Messenger Muhammad (saw)” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, November 3, 3:37 a.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1588072898790674432.

Nov. 2, 2022

“‘Islamophobia’ is normal from Jews and Christians: Qu’ran [2:120] ‘And never will the Jews or Christians be pleased with you until you follow their religion’ It’s when they are happy with you, you need to worry: Have you stopped believing in Jihad or Khilafah or the Shari’ah?” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, November 2, 2022, 2:23 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1587873066805239808.

Nov. 1, 2022

“Albanians leave their country not because they love the UK but because they face the oppression and injustices of man made laws under ‘democracy’. The only time they truly prospered historically was when the Shari’ah was implemented on this Muslim land under the Othmani Khilafah.” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, November 1, 2022, 5:46 a.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1587380595990093829.

Oct. 31, 2022

“#FIFAWorldCup The Qatari regime are open collaborators with the enemies of Muslims eg they host the US air force who have slaughtered 1000’s of Muslims. Banning homosexuality is Islamic & those engaged in it are punished under divine law. However the Qatari regime is NOT Islamic!” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, October 31, 2022, 1:28 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1587134334531682304.

Oct. 29, 2022

“Alhamdulillah Saifullah Paracha has been released from Guantanamo Bay held without a charge by the biggest Terrorist regime in the world; the USA. May Allah (SWT) release the other the other innocent 35 Muslims being tortured by the Americans #FreeTheAseer #FreeGuantanamoMuslims” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, October 29, 2022, 3:47 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1586444579359686657.

Oct. 29, 2022

“The Qatar World Cup is prohibited in Islam for many reasons: free-mixing between men & women, promotion of nationalism, accepting the division of Muslim lands, wasting money, accepting advertisements from teams promoting alcohol and gambling and diverting from our Islamic duties!” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, October 29, 2022, 2:36 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1586426875164827648.

Oct. 29, 2022

“Far from those who make the Messenger Jesus into God, when he returns he will break the cross, kill the pigs & pray standing behind Muslims! I invite all Christians, including King Charles III, to embrace Islam and to accept the final Messenger Muhammad (saw).” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, October 29, 2022, 2:26 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1586424310809661443.

Oct. 29, 2022

“If any non-Muslims do not want their hand cut or to be stoned under the Khilafah system of governance then the answer is simple: don't steal or commit adultery! When the Shariah was implemented (from 622 to 1924) under the Khilafah, theft, rape & poverty were almost eradicated!” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, October 29, 2022, 2:23 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1586423414784348162.

Oct. 29, 2022

“Unlike capitalism which is dying due to oppression or Communism which is dead, Islam has real workable solutions for the problems of mankind; economically, socially and politically. Let’s leave the darkness of man made laws and embrace the beauty and perfection of divine laws!” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, October 29, 2022, 2:21 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1586422899669630976.

Oct. 29, 2022

“The false idols of freedom & democracy people worship today will be replaced by the Shari’ah. Islam is the fastest growing ideology in the world” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, October 29, 2022, 2:19 p.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1586422369962274816.

Oct. 29, 2022

“May Allah (SWT) make this Twitter account and cause of raising awareness about Islam, exposing the enemies of Muslims and calling for the implementation of the Shari’ah worldwide Ameen” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, October 29, 2022, 11:48 a.m., https://twitter.com/THEanjemC/status/1586384445480652800.

Undated

Autobiographical description on his websites:

“As a Muslim I believe that Islam is superior and will never be surpassed by any other belief or ideology in every aspect of life. There is no better way of life for mankind than that of Al-Islam. Indeed Islam has a solution to every single problem that mankind faces or could face from the time of the Messenger Muhammad (saw) until the day of judgement. I also believe firmly in the concept of Izhar ud-Deen i.e. the domination of the world by Islam. This is the purpose that Allah (SWT) sent his Prophet Muhammad (saw) to the world with the Deen (ideology) of truth and the guidance, no matter what the disbelievers or polytheists may think or say. I believe that one day every part of the world (including Europe, USA, UK, China and Russia etc…) will be governed by and under the authority of the Muslims implementing Islamic Law. This is something that I believe in and strive to see Insha’Allah. Al-Hamdulillah (praise be to Allah) that he has guided me to the understanding that I have today and that I am not amongst those who believe in the false Gods of Democracy and Freedom or who worship the Presidents, Kings and Prime Ministers by obeying them or who submits to any man made law as opposed to the divine law (i.e. the Shari’ah).”Anjem Choudary Official Blog, accessed May 10, 2022.

May 4, 2022

Writing on Blogspot in a post entitled, “A Call to Boycott the May Elections”:

“There is no doubt that the duty of a councillor and what they stand for is not based upon the Shariah. It is totally prohibited (Haram) to stand up to be a councillor and it can quite easily lead to committing polytheism (Shirk Akbar).”

“There are clear proofs that it is prohibited to vote as stated above, now it is your duty to stay away from all of this evil and stop people from becoming Mushriks (polytheists) and Murtads (apostates) by voting for manmade laws to be sovereign via a councillor.”Anjem Choudary, “A Call to Boycott the May Elections,” Anjem Choudary Official Blog, May 4, 2022.

Apr. 26, 2022

Writing on Blogspot in a post entitled, “10 Ways for a Muslim to Become a Kaafir!”:

“3) Considering the Kuffar (disbelievers) and Mushrikeen (polytheists) i.e. Jews, Christians, Hindus etc, to be believers or having doubt regarding their disbelief or considering their ways/religion to be correct is committing an act of apostasy. Even to consider the religion of the Kuffar to be equal is an act of apostasy, hence calling for interfaith or union of religions is disbelief.

…

“8) Siding, supporting, assisting and allying with the disbelievers (Jews, Christians, Hindus etc) against a Muslim is an action that expels one out of the camp of Islam. This type of apostasy has become regular in every corner of the world. Many so called ‘Muslim’ police, armies and governments have sided with the Kuffar against the Muslims. For example, the current war against Terrorism in reality is a war against Islam and Muslims. Therefore whoever betrays the Muslims has become part of Shaytaan and his allies.”Anjem Choudary, “10 Ways for a Muslim to Become a Kaafir!,” Shariah is the Future, April 26, 2022.

Apr. 21, 2022

Writing on Blogspot in a post entitled, “Challenging ‘Secular’ Muslims”:

“Sadly many Muslims have today fallen into the trap of integration, assimilation and the justification of adopting Western values as our own, accepting the law of the land and having allegiance to the non-Islamic states under which they live. This has come in many shapes and forms and have been promoted by self-appointed so-called Muslim bodies/councils, MP’s and others parading as the official voices of concern for Islam and Muslims.

“The arguments used by these protagonists of integration and interfaith have also been many and innovative, invariably based upon ration and interest as opposed to divine text.”Anjem Choudary, “Challenging ‘Secular’ Muslims,” Shariah is the Future, April 21, 2022.

Apr. 21, 2022

Press release entitled, “Rise for Palestine!”:

“It is not enough for the Jewish fascist Israeli State that they occupy the Muslim land of Palestine (at the moment). Rather at every opportunity the cruel regime and its brutal army carry out atrocities to distinguish themselves as the number one tyrants in the world.

…

“Verily, Messenger Muhammad (saw) foretold this calamity in Palestine by the Jewish occupiers but he also informed us that Muslims will retake the authority back and implement the Shari’ah. Let this Ramadhan be the one where the quest to finally liberate Palestine from the fascist regime is fulfilled.

“Let Muslims rise, wherever they are in the world and strive to defend their innocent fellow Muslims and liberate Palestine from occupation once and for all. Indeed to defend the life, honour and property of Muslims, verbally, financially and, for those with capability, physically is an obligation upon every Muslim!”Anjem Choudary, “Rise for Palestine!,” Shariah is the Future, April 21, 2022.

Apr. 21, 2022

Writing on Blogspot in a post entitled, “Why it is Strictly Forbidden to Vote in Islam”:

“Hence:

“1.      Anybody who believes that Almighty Allah (swt) is not the only, exclusive Legislator and Commander is a Kaafir i.e. a disbeliever.

“2.      Anybody who believes in Almighty Allah (swt) and associates anyone else with Him, contravening his being the sole Legislator and Commander is a Mushrik i.e. A polytheist one who associates another as a partner unto Allah (swt).

“3.      Any Muslim who votes for a person knowing that the Parliament is a body that legislates (makes) law is a Murtad i.e. an apostate.

“4.      Any Muslim who participates in elections to become an MEP, MP or councillor knowing the reality of the Parliament as a legislative house is a Murtad i.e. an apostate.

“5.      Any Muslim who does not know the reality of Parliament and he or she votes is sinful because he or she did not seek the divine ruling for the action before committing it, since the Juristic Principle is that every action, verbal or physical, must be based on an Islamic ruling which is derived solely from the Quran and Sunnah based upon the understanding of the Sahabah (ra).

“6.      Any Muslim who participates in voting for a candidate whether the candidate is a Muslim or non-Muslim basing his action on a misled so-called 'opinion' from a rationalist or secular clergyman has been misled and the issue must be explained to him or her. Although believing that Allah (swt) is the only Legislator is a matter known from the Deen of Islam by necessity, therefore ignorance about it is not an excuse and he or she is therefore sinful.

“7.      The only acceptable excuse is for a person who is a new Muslim or someone totally ignorant (Jaahil) about what is known by necessity from the Deen of Islam due to the fact that he or she has grown up under Kufr law and resided amongst non-Muslims. Those Muslims need this serious matter fully explained to them but if they continue to vote claiming that they have a different opinion from another person they are sinful.”Anjem Choudary, “Why it is Strictly Forbidden to Vote in Islam,” Shariah is the Future, April 21, 2022.

Apr. 20, 2022

Press release entitled, “Jihad: The Only Way to Stop Atrocities Against Muslims in India”:

“Let us be absolutely clear, India is Muslim land, as indeed is all of the indian subcontinent. It is time Muslims regained authority and took their rightful place as leaders implementing the laws of Allah (SWT) over Muslims and non-Muslims.

“Oh Muslims, how long are we going to tolerate watching our brothers and sisters being terrorised, routinely beaten without lifting a finger in their defence.

“Oh Muslims, in this month of Ramadhan, the month of Jihad, let us strive to defend the life, honour and properties of all Muslims everywhere, including in India, verbally by raising our voice as well as financially and, for those with capability, physically.”Anjem Choudary, “Jihad: The Only Way to Stop Atrocities Against Muslims in India,” Shariah is the Future, April 20, 2022.

Apr. 17, 2022

Press release entitled, “Democracy Equals Terrorism”:

“Democracy is the way of life of the Kuffaar (disbelievers) in which they believe, by which they live and for which they are willing to sacrifice their lives and those of others. The US and UK are hailed as being the champions of democracy and are of the most powerful and among the most advanced nations in the world today. Thus, the natural consequence of this is that they will do whatever they can to ensure that their way of life becomes dominant over all else, and that it is accepted by the world as being the norm. Hence, these nations deem it necessary to convey their democratic way of life to the rest of the world so that they are able to further sustain their dominance and ensure that any threat to their civilisation is made impotent.

…

“The reality is that terrorism is the foreign policy of the Western (non-Islamic) regimes and the means that they adopt in order to further their way of life and bully the world into submission. They employ state terrorism under the guise of liberation and fighting evil despotic regimes, in order to fool the people into siding with them.

Muslims who do not accept such a reality where the disbelievers are allowed to have the upper hand over them, are perversely labelled terrorists themselves. When they reject the deception and trickery of these regimes and their rotten, democratic way of life and call for Islam as the perfect and divine alternative, they are the ones who are arrested and tortured. When they counter the notion of relegating God to the places of worship (secularism) and rather say that Allah (SWT) is the only commander and legislator, they are tarnished with accusations of being extremist and radical.”Anjem Choudary, “Democracy Equals Terrorism,” Shariah is the Future, April 17, 2022.

Apr. 16, 2022

Writing after the conviction of Ali Harbi Ali for the death of parliamentarian David Amess:

“It is clear from his evidence he was motivated to do what he did in relation to David Amess because of British foreign policy and the restrictions they put on him to prevent him travelling abroad.”Dominik Lemanski, “David Amess would be alive if killer had joined IS, claims hate preacher,” Express (London), April 17, 2022, https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1597194/sir-david-amess-murder-ISIS-Anjem-Choudary-Ali-Harbi-Ali-syria-latest.

Apr. 16, 2022

Writing after the conviction of Ali Harbi Ali for the death of parliamentarian David Amess:

“Restricting Muslims going abroad to defend their brethren may result, as in the case of Ali Harbi Ali, in some feeling that they have no choice but to carry out an operation here to try to stop Muslims being killed. It seems to me that if they had let Ali go to Syria or Iraq, to fight, to defend Muslim life, honour and property, there would have been no repercussions at home.”Dominik Lemanski, “David Amess would be alive if killer had joined IS, claims hate preacher,” Express (London), April 17, 2022, https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1597194/sir-david-amess-murder-ISIS-Anjem-Choudary-Ali-Harbi-Ali-syria-latest.

Feb. 4, 2022

Writing in his official blog:

“Below are some fundamental differences between so-called radical (practising Muslims) and moderate Muslims.

“A practising Muslim wants to live under the Shari’ah and so calls for the only example of a Ruling system given in the Qur’an and Sunnah (example of the Messenger Muhammad (saw) i.e. the Khilafah. Whereas a moderate Muslim doesn’t know what the Khilafah is or prefers to live under non-Islamic laws.

“A practising Muslim doesn’t vote as he knows that a member of Parliament will go and make laws according to the whims and desires of humans whilst he knows that sovereignty and supremacy including the right of legislation, belong solely to Allah (SWT). Whereas a moderate Muslim believes to vote for people to legislate is not just ok but also an obligation because some heretic has given him an absurd Fatwa that voting is ‘Jihad’ or is enjoining good and forbidding evil.”Anjem Choudary, “The difference between a practicing Muslim and a so-called ‘Moderate Muslim,’” Anjem Choudary Official Blog, February 4, 2022.

Feb. 4, 2022

Writing in his official blog:

“A practising Muslim believes his identity is Muslim first and last and hence he sees himself as such shunning all false bonds such as nationalism, tribalism and patriotism. He believes that only those with piety are better than others. Whereas a moderate Muslim promotes his national identity and is proud of it and will even join the army to defend it. A practising Muslim sees various independence days (such as Pakistan Independence Day) as days of humiliation where Muslims became further divided. Whereas a moderate Muslim openly celebrates these days and discriminates against those who are not part of his tribe or nation.”Anjem Choudary, “The difference between a practicing Muslim and a so-called ‘Moderate Muslim,’” Anjem Choudary Official Blog, February 4, 2022.

Feb. 4, 2022

Writing in his official blog:

“A practising Muslim has as his aim for the whole world to be governed by Islam and strives and struggles for this and for the eradication and removal of all man made law and order. He realises that man made law means oppression and injustice and so calls this out. Whereas a moderate Muslim believes in the United Nations and other man made institutions and has a defeated mentality. He doesn’t want change and even if he does he foolishly pleads to these kufr (disbelieving) institutions for help.

In truth the moderate Muslim is not a Muslim at all, except by name. Whereas the practising Muslim is really just being a normal Muslim practising Islam. The first one has been cursed by Allah (SWT) and is destined for the hellfire whilst the latter has been praised by Allah (SWT) and is destined for paradise.”Anjem Choudary, “The difference between a practicing Muslim and a so-called ‘Moderate Muslim,’” Anjem Choudary Official Blog, February 4, 2022.

Feb. 2, 2022

Writing in his official blog:

“In Britain today, the real problems of poverty, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, police racism and brutality, sexual exploitation etc… will not be fixed by more regulation. Rather these ills needs to be eradicated. A system with a competent leader who has a sound, objective and rational agenda is needed. Islam provides such a solution.

“Under the Islamic ruling system, a leader is not voted for by all and sundry but rather carefully selected by those with ruling and jurisprudence knowledge. The rules he will govern by are not based on slogans on the side of a bus which people might find attractive but rather divine rules designed to eradicate all the problems which human beings face. The head of State is not judged on his charisma (or lack of it) but rather on if he implements rulings based solely on the Qur’an and teachings of the Messenger Muhammad (saw).

…

“The above system can seem a dream to many living in the West, but Muslims who study the history of the Islamic State (Khilafah) for over a millennium (from 622 until 1924) can testify to a system that indeed virtually eradicate commonplace crimes such as theft and rape. Which outlawed the evils of drugs and alcohol and which preserved the sanctity of marriage and the dignity and honour of all citizens.

“Hence, there is no guarantee that the next leader of the Conservative party or Prime minister will bring any beneficial change for Britain, it is instead certain to be more of the same. What Britain really needs is a political revolution not a different face behind the desk at 10 Downing Street.”Anjem Choudary, “It’s Not Boris But The System That Needs To Go!,” Anjem Choudary Official Blog, February 2, 2022.

Jan. 20, 2022

Writing in his official blog:

“The truth is that Aafia is not a terrorist but rather she is a victim of US oppression and torture meted out to Muslims globally in the US war against Islam. Aafia Siddiqui was never convicted for terrorism offences, in fact the Judge in her ‘cover up’ trial, Richard Berman admitted there was no evidence of links to terrorism. She is an innocent Muslim woman who the US has subjected to horrific suffering.  Muslims worldwide must continue to demand her immediate release.”Anjem Choudary, “The Tragic Truth About Aafia Siddiqui!,” Anjem Choudary Official Blog, January 20, 2022.

Jan. 16, 2022

Writing in his Blogspot blog in a post entitled, “Free Sister Aafia Siddiqui!,”:

“The case of our sister Aafia Siddiqui continues to be a deep wound in the heart of the Muslim ummah. Her case has become renowned in our times, a case of a Muslim woman, an intellectual and a champion for the cause of those who faced oppression, who has been illegally and unjustly treated by the Taghout (tyrant) regimes of Pakistan and America, suffering continuing torture, abuse and inhumane treatment.”Anjem Choudary, “Free Sister Aafia Siddiqui!,” Shariah is the Future, January 16, 2022.

Nov. 2021

“The important thing with Abu Izzadeen and even Mizanur Rahman is that the views that we hold, and I can speak for all of them, are based on very, very clear, defined scripture. No amount of talking to by theologians or police officers or judges is going to change those views and therefore it became about a clash of civilisations. Islamic culture and Western culture.”Dominik Lemanski, “Fears of reinstating terrorism group as extremist leaves prison and meets old friends, Express (London), November 28, 2021, https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1528390/terror-muslim-group-abu-izzadeen-trevor-brooks.

Nov. 2021

“They accuse the Muslims of terrorism and extremism and yet they are the ones who are the real terrorists, as demonstrated by their colonialist history and recent escapades in Muslim lands, such as in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. They accuse the Muslims of rebellion but in actual fact they are the ones who are rebellious against Allah….”Anjem Choudary, “The Tragedy of Muslim Prisoners In Our Times!,” Al-Aseer, November 2021, 3-4.

Oct. 16, 2021

Speaking a day after the murder of parliamentarian David Amess, whom Choudary suggested was killed for holding pro-Israel views:

“Many people do [believe] that it is a terrorist state, and who would possibly be a friend of Israel after you see the carnage that they carried out against Muslims in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and continue to do with the appropriation of properties? No one in their right and rational mind would support such a state [Israel].”Abul Taher and Dominik Lemanski, “Preacher Anjem Choudary sparks fury by suggesting Sir David Amess may have been killed for being 'pro-Israel,’” Daily Mail (London), last updated October 17, 2021, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10099513/Preacher-sparks-fury-suggesting-Sir-David-Amess-killed-pro-Israel.html.

Sept. 10, 2021

Essay entitled “Lessons of 9/11 Have Not Been Learnt”:

“Whatever we may think about the legitimacy under Islamic law of those who carried out the attack, the reasons they gave in their wills and the statement of Sheikh Osama bin Laden at the time spelt out that the motives were primarily as a consequence of the presence of US forces in Muslim countries and the atrocities committed against Muslims by the illegitimate State of Israel which the US had been, and still are, continuously assisting in their brutality of the Muslims of Palestine.

…

“There can be little doubt that the presence of US forces and their allies in the Muslim world continues to be a cause of instability in the region and a cause of insecurity back home. The withdrawal of  US troops from Afghanistan is a start, but their reassignment to other areas in the Muslim world, whether in Africa or the Middle East doesn’t help and nor do the continuous drone attacks of which innocent men, women and children are always the primary casualties.

“If, as I believe, we all truly want to live in a world where peace and security reigns, then the lessons of history must be learnt. False propaganda created to justify the occupation of Muslim land and usurpation of it’s resources for selfish greed must not be believed, such as Blair’s ‘weapons of mass destruction’ lies or those of the US and their Israeli friends justifying apartheid in Palestine. Laws and policies demonising the Muslim community and vilifying them under the so-called war on terror also need to be removed.”Anjem Choudary, Telegram channel, September 10, 2021.

Aug. 30, 2021

“Rather than to reject anything obeyed, worshipped or followed other than Allah (SWT) they obey UN resolutions and accept UN sovereignty over them by being a member of it. The rulers of Muslim countries refer to the resolutions of the UN and also arbitrate to them for rulings which are clearly not based on the Qur’an and Sunnah (actions and sayings of the Messenger Muhammad (saw)” (Telegram post)Anjem Choudary, Telegram channel, August 30, 2021.

Aug. 27, 2021

“There are in the world today in fact two competing camps, those who believe sovereignty and supremacy belongs to Allah and those who believe that these belong to man. The conflict is such that the regimes which adopt ideas alien to Islam are keen for them either to give up their Islamic beliefs and to adopt their own culture and way of life or to get Muslims to reinterpret Islam so that it agrees with their ideas.

“Hence the Western Regimes have introduced many initiatives targeting the Muslim community over the last few years. These include citizenship classes at schools and also defining as extreme those who call for Shari’ah, who believe in the concept of Jihad or who expose the Western foreign policy in places such as Iraq or Afghanistan. Terms such as Islamist, radical, fundamentalist etc are often used to smear the image of these Muslims.” (Telegram post)Anjem Choudary, Telegram post, August 27, 2021.

Aug. 25, 2021

“Just as the Americans set up Guantanamo Bay as a concentration camp to strip Muslims of their rights and liberties, the British do the same with separation centres and measures under ‘prevent’ and TPIMS, so the Chinese feel they also have the green light to do similar and even worse to Muslims en masse in concentration camps.

“In France they ban the burqa, in Switzerland the minaret, In the UK they proscribe anyone who calls for jihad to liberate Muslim land or remove oppressive regimes ruling over Muslims and in China they ban the growing of beards and wearing of the hijab and force Muslims to eat pork.

“The crimes committed against Muslims and numbers murdered by the Chinese regime are truly horrendous, but are they really that much less of a crime than those committed by the US, UK and their allies against innocent Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last two decades and in Africa, particularly by the French?” (Telegram post)Anjem Choudary, Telegram post, August 25, 2021.

Aug. 20, 2021

Essay entitled “SINCERE ADVICE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TALIBAN”:

“At the level of the Social system all civil marriages must be abolished and the Nikah can be the only marriage practice. Any divorces must be dealt with in accordance with the Shari’ah law. There must be segregated schools for boys and for girls. Women can work for their living within the bounds of the Shari’ah. There must be Islamic dress upon all women i.e. to cover all their bodies except for their face and hands. Any inheritance must be distributed in accordance with Islamic law. All nightclubs, pubs, bars or any intimate venues must be closed. Any businesses exploiting the femininity of women in any work or in any advert must be banned.” (Telegram post)Anjem Choudary, Telegram post, August 20, 2021.

Aug. 20, 2021

Essay entitled “SINCERE ADVICE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TALIBAN”:

“All courts must be called Shari’ah courts thereby abolishing the supreme courts, the military courts and the civil courts and replacing them by the Islamic courts. The penal system must be based on Islam and nothing else. You must ensure that the original rule that every person is innocent until proven guilty is observed. Abolish any interrogation system based on any form of torture, physical harassment or assault upon any person under any circumstances.” (Telegram post)Anjem Choudary, Telegram post, August 20, 2021.

Aug. 20, 2021

Essay entitled “SINCERE ADVICE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TALIBAN”:

“The above are the main guidelines about the systems of life, which need to be observed and implemented in order to please Allah (swt) and which will guarantee the happiness, the tranquillity and the dignity of man. They will lead to the elevation of man and to the revival of the Muslims in order for it to carry Islam to the world and to dominate the entire world by Islam so that it forms the Islamic world order where Muslims and non Muslims will live under the eyes of a world wide Islamic State and be citizens regardless of their religion, colour, race and language.” (Telegram post)Anjem Choudary, Telegram post, August 20, 2021.

July 31, 2021

Essay entitled “The Call For Shariah Is Just being A Muslim”:

“Sadly, due to the fact that not only are Muslims a minority in this country but also the fact that the majority of Muslims have had a secular education and have been indoctrinated with concepts which are an anathema to Islam and Muslims like, democracy freedom and liberalism, it is true that the majority of Muslims not only do not know what the Shari'ah or Islam is in terms of ruling and the economy etc*but they have also wholeheartedly adopted secularism and democracy instead.

“This has led many to unfortunately leave the fold of Islam and among them are also a vocal few who not only have abandoned Islam but have become propagandists for secularism and democracy!

“For those who believe they can isolate Britain or France or America and contend that Muslims should only call for the Shari’ah in ‘Muslim countries’ this is also erroneous after all the whole planet Earth belongs to God and his law should, indeed must, be implemented everywhere.”William Cole, “Islamist hate preacher Anjem Choudary is kicked off Instagram days after he was banned from Twitter and Facebook,” Daily Mail (London), August 3, 2021, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9855415/Islamist-hate-preacher-Anjem-Choudary-kicked-Instagram.html.

Jul. 19, 2021

“I don’t believe that someone like me can ever have a fair trial. So don’t read too much into the fact that I’ve been convicted of this or that. I’m just a normal, everybody Muslim. I’m a family man, I’m a father, I have a mother. If you were to walk up here and speak to many of the people in the shops, they know me personally, they know me in the mosques around here. I don’t think anybody would really have a bad thing to say about me.”Max Stephens and Gareth Davies, Anjem Choudary free to preach again as he gives first public statement since release from prison,” Telegraph (London), July 19, 2021, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/19/anjem-choudary-free-preach-gives-first-public-statement-since/.

Jul. 19, 2021

“I don’t believe I supported any prescribed organisation and I believe on top of that that if you live in a society where you have so-called freedom and democracy these things should never be criminalised anyway.

“I don’t think I did anything wrong according to divine text.

“I could have been charged with anything, I could have been charged with carrying out 9/11 and 12 people on the street who have been subject to the propaganda from the media are never going to find someone like me innocent because they have already been conditioned, they have already have preconceived ideas.

“I don’t think I ever praised anybody who carried out any attack.”Jonathan Reilly, “HATE SPEECH Terror preacher Anjem Choudary calls for release of terrorist HOURS after his ban on public speaking ends,” Sun (London), July 19, 2021, https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/15633294/anajem-choudary-release-terrorist-ban-public-speaking/.

Aug. 4, 2015

“UK PM's are criminals, today they murder kids with drones & take them from their parents in the past it seems they also raped them #TedHeath”Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, August 4, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary/status/628567938350608384.

Aug. 1, 2015

“The only true monotheists are Muslims. Hence we call Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs & Buddhists to give up their polytheism & embrace Islam”Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, August 1, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary/status/627694020291129344.

Jun. 16, 2015

“Only Islam outlaws the evils of Alcohol Gambling Promiscuity Usury Porn Injustice Oppression Exploitation Racism Poverty Democracy Freedom” Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, June 16, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary/status/610711310486081536.

May 7, 2015

“When MPs Wage war on Muslims Legalise haram Allow Insulting of the Prophet It'll be on the neck of both voter & votee #StayMuslimDontVote.” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, May 7, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary.

May 7, 2015

“Democracy, Secularism & Freedom etc are all Kufr! Associating with Allah is shirk, Allah alone is the sole legislator! #StayMuslimDontVote” Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, May 7, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary/status/596329847275782144.

May 7, 2015

“Democracy, Secularism & Freedom etc are all Kufr!
Associating with Allah is shirk, Allah alone is the sole legislator!
#StayMuslimDontVote”Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, May 7, 2015, 8:04 a.m., https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary/status/596329847275782144.

May 6, 2015

“The United States of America are the champions of murdering innocent people.”“Radical Imam: Pamela Gellar Deserves to Die,” Fox News, May 6, 2015,http://nation.foxnews.com/2015/05/06/radical-imam-pamela-geller-deserves-die.

May 6, 2015

"Pamela Gellar “should be put before a sharia court and tried.” “Radical Imam: Pamela Gellar Deserves to Die,” Fox News, May 6, 2015,http://nation.foxnews.com/2015/05/06/radical-imam-pamela-geller-deserves-die.

May 6, 2015

In response to a question about whether gays and lesbians should be killed:“If they do the act publicly and there are witnesses, it does carry capital punishment.”“Radical Imam: Pamela Gellar Deserves to Die,” Fox News, May 6, 2015,http://nation.foxnews.com/2015/05/06/radical-imam-pamela-geller-deserves-die.

May 6, 2015

“Let’s be clear we are not talking about Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck. We are talking about people who deliberately had a competition to insult the messenger Muhammed. If you saw the cartoons that Charlie Hebdo drew, you would understand the anger. And now this woman [Pamela Gellar] wants to have people draw cartoons to insult the prophet, knowing full well that this carries the death penalty in Islam. So definitely she’s asking for an attack.”“Radical Imam: Pamela Gellar Deserves to Die,” Fox News, May 6, 2015,http://nation.foxnews.com/2015/05/06/radical-imam-pamela-geller-deserves-die.

May 5, 2015

“If the Shariah were implemented in Britain the state would expand its territory to annex land beyond its frontier such as France Belgium etc.” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, May 5, 2015, accessed on May 7, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary.

Apr. 1, 2015

“This Fri 3rd April we'll explain how all parties (Cons. Lab. Lib. UKIP etc) are targeting Muslims & are enemies to Islam #StayMuslimDontVote” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, April 1, 2015, accessed on April 1, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary.

Mar. 29, 2015

“Only under the Shari'ah are the evils which plague society such as alcohol, gambling, pornography, usury, adultery & homosexuality outlawed!” (Tweet)Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, March 29, 2015, accessed on April 1, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary.

Mar. 18, 2015

“Israel is
The illegitimate child of the UK
Adopted by the USA
Nurtured by the UN
ALL of Israel is & always will belong to the Muslim Ummah”Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, March 18, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary/status/578437996338348033.

Mar. 10, 2015

“The biggest threat to global security are not Russia or Islamic State but the US & her allies who have the blood of millions on their hands!”Anjem Choudary, Twitter post, March 18, 2015, https://twitter.com/anjemchoudary/status/575224728660676608.

Jan. 2015

“Contrary to popular misconception, Islam does not mean peace but rather means submission to the commands of Allah alone. Therefore, Muslims do not believe in the concept of freedom of expression, as their speech and actions are determined by divine revelation and not based on people's desires.”Maria Vultaggio, “Who Is Anjem Choudary? ‘Muslims Do Not Believe’ In Freedom Of Speech, Radical Cleric Says,” International Business Times, January 8, 2015, http://www.ibtimes.com/who-anjem-choudary-muslims-do-not-believe-freedom-speech-radical-cleric-says-1778128.

Nov. 2, 2014

“I believe Islam is superior. And will not be surpassed. So I believe that the law of God is much superior to man-made law.” (60 Minutes Interview)Clarissa Ward, “Campaigning for ISIS in the West,” 60 Minutes, November 2, 2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/recruiting-for-isis-60-minutes/.

Nov. 2, 2014

“Allah is the only one to legislate. So, obviously, in that sense it's completely, diametrically opposed. You cannot have man legislating and playing God in Parliament, and at the same time believe that Allah is the only legislator.” (60 Minutes Interview)Clarissa Ward, “Campaigning for ISIS in the West,” 60 Minutes, November 2, 2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/recruiting-for-isis-60-minutes/.

Nov. 2, 2014

“Allah created my tongue to speak. I don't have freedom to come here, because Allah created my feet to walk. So I walk, and I speak, and I look, and I hear according to what God says.” (60 Minutes Interview)Clarissa Ward, “Campaigning for ISIS in the West,” 60 Minutes, November 2, 2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/recruiting-for-isis-60-minutes/.

Nov. 2, 2014

“You know, the messenger Mohammad, he said, "Fight them with your wealth, with your body, with your tongue." So, I'm engaged here, if you like, in a verbal jihad.” (60 Minutes Interview)Clarissa Ward, “Campaigning for ISIS in the West,” 60 Minutes, November 2, 2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/recruiting-for-isis-60-minutes/.

Sep. 6, 2014

“[Abu Bakr-al-Baghdadi is] the caliph of all Muslims and the prince of the believers.”Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian, September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis.

Sep. 2014

“It's not the same. Under divine law it is allowed to [joke about] 9/11, whereas insulting the prophet is not allowed.”Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian, September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis.

Sep. 2014

“If you look at the death of James Foley, you only have to listen to the person who is executing him to know that the blame is the Americans' because of their own foreign policy. The fact is that decades of torture, cruelty and mass murder will have repercussions.”Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian, September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis.

Sep. 2014

“The reason why the British government ditched multiculturalism is because Islam is not a spiritual belief. The sharia has a penal code, it has a foreign policy, it has an economic system, therefore it cannot exist or coexist with capitalism or communism, which are also political beliefs.”Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian, September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis.

Sep. 2014

“Islam certainly has a spiritual basis which those ideologies don't have, but the reason it does not fit within the model of multiculturalism is because it challenges those things. As a Muslim you cannot live side by side with other beliefs; you continue to strive for sharia.”Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian, September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis.

Sep. 2014

“I admit that I wasn't always practicing. But it's not from the tradition of the prophet to expose your sins from the past. I committed many mistakes in my life. You are judged on your latest deed, meaning if you made mistakes and corrected them, people should give credit for that. I thank Allah that he guided me. At the hands of Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, I started to learn more about Islam.”Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian, September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis.

Sep. 2014

“The sharia has a penal code, it has a foreign policy, it has an economic system, therefore it cannot exist or coexist with capitalism or communism, which are also political beliefs.”Andrew Anthony, “Anjem Choudary: the British extremist who backs the caliphate,” Guardian, September 6, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/07/anjem-choudary-islamic-state-isis.

Jun. 19, 2014

After one of his meetings is shut down by British authorities: “The fact is, they [the British government] can't tolerate people who oppose their foreign policies and they are trying to silence people who oppose them. I have lots of meetings, seminars and lectures almost every single day and week and I have been continuing with my activities. I will probably be increasing them now the police want to ban people. I don't think they are going to have any impact apart from isolating, demonising and vilifying the Muslim community even more than they have done so far.” “Preacher Anjem Choudary Vows to Continue Berkshire Lectures,” BBC News, June 19, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-27922609.

December 8, 2010

“I think we are on the brink of many more operations in the West. This is going to be very, very nasty ... The Muslims engaged in jihad are not going to stop. People will declare jihad in Britain and America. I don't think you can stomach something like that."fhsfhsdkjfhsjfh

2010

“There are many battlefields,” he says calmly into a microphone. “There's a battlefield outside 10 Downing Street [home to Britain's prime minister] and in the mountains of the Tora Bora [in Afghanistan].” (Speaking to a rally of 250 people) Ian Johnston, “Islamists Raise Fears of Violent ‘Clash of Cultures’ in Europe,” NBC, December 8, 2010, http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40336911/ns/world_news-europe/t/islamists-raise-fears-violent-clash-cultures-europe/#.VSWFNPCZ5Sk.

2010

“There will always be wars. The conflict will continue always. I think it's a matter of time before another 9/11 takes place and another 7/7 (London bombings)” Ian Johnston, “Islamists Raise Fears of Violent ‘Clash of Cultures’ in Europe,” NBC, December 8, 2010, http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40336911/ns/world_news-europe/t/islamists-raise-fears-violent-clash-cultures-europe/#.VSWFNPCZ5Sk.

2010

“I think we are on the brink of many more operations in the West. This is going to be very, very nasty ... The Muslims engaged in jihad are not going to stop. People will declare jihad in Britain and America. I don't think you can stomach something like that.” (Speaking to a rally of 250 people) Ian Johnston, “Islamists Raise Fears of Violent ‘Clash of Cultures’ in Europe,” NBC, December 8, 2010, http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40336911/ns/world_news-europe/t/islamists-raise-fears-violent-clash-cultures-europe/#.VSWFNPCZ5Sk.

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Daily Dose

Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

Fact:

On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers. 

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