Anjem Choudary saw being ‘number one radicaliser’ as ‘badge of honour’, court hears
Choudary, the Islamist preacher, is alleged to have
taken a “caretaker role” in directing Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), a banned terrorist organisation, his trial at Woolwich Crown Court was told on Friday.
The 57-year-old, of Ilford, east London, is also accused of being a member of the proscribed organisation for “many years” and encouraging support for it through online meetings.
The prosecution alleges that Choudary directed that terrorist organisation for a significant period of time from 2014 onwards and also encouraged support for that organisation by addressing online meetings of the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS). Prosecutors allege the New York-based ITS and ALM were “one and the same”.
On Friday, the court heard that during one of his lectures Choudary appeared to think that the authorities were worried about him.
Choudary told the class: “When I went to prison here in this country in 2016 they opened up a separation centre for me and my dear brothers because they had become so worried about our Dawah (spreading the word of Islam). We never carried swords, we never carried guns or knives. They said to me, they said you are the number one radicaliser in Britain they said, glory to Allah. You know they expected me to be unhappy with that; I’m like… that is a badge of honour for me.”
Tom Little KC, prosecutor, said: “He thought that being regarded as a number one radicaliser as a badge of honour – what does that tell you about his mindset?”
Also on trial is Khaled Hussein, 29, from Canada, who prosecutors say was a “follower and dedicated supporter” of Choudary. He has pleaded not guilty to membership of ALM, while Choudary denies directing a terrorist organisation, being a member of a proscribed organisation and addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organisation.
Secret recordings also captured conversations involving Choudary speaking to his wife and also with Omar Bakri Mohammed, the spiritual leader of ALM.
The court heard terror organisations “may lurk in the shadows” to avoid being identified.
Prosecutor Tom Little KC, opening the trial at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, said that Choudary had a “warped and twisted mindset”. Anybody who has studied Islam even a little will know that the likes of Chourary don’t ‘twist’ Islam; they preach the pure quranic version. His mind may be warped from what we consider an honest path, but it isn’t his Islamic belief he is twisting.
Mr Little told jurors: “During the period that you will be considering, ALM was not always active. There were times when arrests and interventions limited what they were able to do. But we suggest, Anjem Choudary never gave up. He bided, we say, his time.”
The prosecution believe he had become more cautious after having been prosecuted for such matters before but Choudary felt he was among friends, associates and those he could trust. Mr Little added that “leopards don’t change their spots and Anjem Choudary has not changed his mindset”.
The case continues.