Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary sentenced to life in UK court after global investigation
Notorious radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a UK court for his pivotal role in leading a proscribed terrorist organization.
The 57-year-old former lawyer was handed a minimum term of 28 years at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday, following a thorough joint investigation by law enforcement agencies from the UK, US, and Canada.
Judge Mark Wall described Choudary as “front and centre” in the operations of the banned group and emphasized his significant influence in encouraging young men into radical activities.
Choudary will not be eligible for release until after the age of 85, factoring in time already served in custody, according to the Manchester Times.
The investigation, which included collaboration from the Metropolitan Police, New York Police Department, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, culminated in Choudary’s conviction last week. The jury found him guilty of being the “caretaker” leader of Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), a group designated as a terrorist organization in the UK since 2010.
Founded in 1996 by Syrian-born cleric Omar Bakri Muhammad, Al-Muhajiroun aimed to establish an Islamic caliphate in the UK.
The group has been linked to several high-profile attacks, including the 2013 murder of British soldier Lee Rigby and the London Bridge attacks in 2017 and 2019. Despite being officially disbanded, prosecutors contend that the group continues to operate under various aliases, such as the New York-based Islamic Thinkers Society.
Choudary, who has previously served time for supporting the jihadist Islamic State group, was found to have a lasting radicalizing impact. US law enforcement agencies successfully infiltrated ALM by attending online lectures featuring Choudary in 2022 and 2023, leading to coordinated police investigations in the UK and Canada.
“There are individuals that have conducted terrorist attacks or travelled for terrorist purposes as a result of Anjem Choudary’s radicalizing impact upon them,” stated Dominic Murphy of London’s Metropolitan Police following the conviction.
Choudary’s sentencing underscores the ongoing efforts of international law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism and prevent the spread of radical ideologies.
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