News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/31st July 2024
British Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary, 57, has been sentenced to life in prison for directing the banned terrorist organization al-Muhajiroun (ALM). This significant verdict was delivered at London’s Woolwich Crown Court, with Judge Mark Wall emphasizing the severe consequences of Choudary’s actions.
Choudary was convicted last week for his role in leading ALM, a group that was outlawed over a decade ago due to its extremist activities. Judge Wall highlighted how organizations like ALM promote violence for ideological causes through online platforms, fostering an environment where individuals feel empowered to commit acts of terror. He stated that such groups disrupt societal harmony, creating divisions among people who could otherwise coexist peacefully.
The life sentence handed down to Choudary includes a minimum term of 28 years before he becomes eligible for parole. Prosecutor Tom Little described Choudary as the “caretaker emir” of ALM, a role he assumed after the group’s original leader, Omar Bakri Mohammed, was imprisoned in Lebanon in 2014.
Choudary’s defense, represented by lawyer Paul Hynes, claimed that ALM was merely a shadow of its former self, with most of the attacks associated with it occurring in the past. Despite this argument, the court recognized Choudary’s ongoing influence and leadership within the group.
The conviction came after a joint investigation by police forces in Britain, the United States, and Canada. Evidence showed that Choudary directed ALM through online lectures attended by followers, including those based in New York. The group operated under various aliases, one of which was the Islamic Thinkers Society, based in New York. This connection was affirmed by New York Deputy Police Commissioner Rebecca Weiner, who described the case as historic.
Alongside Choudary, 29-year-old Khaled Hussein from Edmonton, Canada, was also convicted. Hussein, a committed supporter of ALM, was sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement. The two were apprehended a year ago when Hussein arrived at Heathrow Airport.
Choudary’s history of promoting extremist ideologies is well-documented. He was previously imprisoned in 2016 for encouraging support for ISIL (ISIS) and was released in 2018 after serving half of his five-and-a-half-year sentence. ALM, which emerged in the late 1990s, has been linked to numerous terrorist attacks both domestically and internationally.
The sentencing of Anjem Choudary marks a crucial step in addressing the influence of extremist leaders and dismantling networks that perpetuate terrorism. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of international law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of their citizens.
