British Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary has been sentenced to life in prison for directing a “terrorist organisation” called al-Muhajiroun (ALM). The 57-year-old preacher was convicted of normalizing violence in support of an ideological cause through online meetings. Choudary was described as the “caretaker emir” of ALM after its leader was jailed in 2014.
Choudary’s lawyer argued that the group was a shell of its former self and most attacks related to it had already occurred. However, the judge handed down a life sentence with a minimum of 28 years before parole eligibility. Choudary’s follower, Khaled Hussein, was also convicted and received a five-year sentence.
An investigation by police in Britain, the United States, and Canada revealed that Choudary was running and directing ALM through online lectures with followers in New York. The group, also known as the Islamic Thinkers Society, has been linked to various attacks both domestically and internationally.
Choudary had previously been imprisoned in 2016 for supporting ISIL and was released in 2018. The case has been described as historic by New York Deputy Police Commissioner Rebecca Weiner. Choudary’s sentencing marks a significant victory in the fight against terrorism and the radicalization of individuals through online propaganda.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com