British cleric Anjem Choudary receives life imprisonment for leading a terrorist organization

British preacher Anjem Choudary, known for his extreme views, has been handed a life sentence for his involvement in directing a terrorist group. He was found guilty of being a member of the banned organization ALM, also known as al-Muhajiroun, in a trial at Woolwich Crown Court. Judge Mark Wall highlighted Choudary’s significant role in leading a terrorist organization that lured young men into radical activities. ALM was outlawed by the UK government in 2010 for its involvement in terrorism-related activities.

Choudary took over the leadership of ALM following the imprisonment of the group’s founder, Omar Bakri Muhammad. Despite previous convictions related to supporting the Islamic State group, Choudary denied promoting ALM during his trial, claiming the group no longer existed. He and one of his supporters, Khaled Hussein, were arrested at Heathrow Airport. Hussein, a dedicated follower, was also found guilty of being part of a banned organization.

The prosecution described Choudary as having a distorted mindset and a history of influencing individuals towards extremist ideologies. The preacher must serve a minimum of 28 years in prison under his life sentence. The group has operated under various aliases, including the New York-based Islamic Thinkers Society, where Choudary has given speeches. The NYPD has confirmed that the Islamic Thinkers Society was the U.S. branch of ALM and commended the prosecution as a significant milestone.