Photo: BOP employee · Public domain
Born in Egypt · Nationalities British, Egyptian — Religion / ideologies / activism
Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “Participation in 'A Towering Day in History' conference on 9/11” and “US designation as Specially Designated Global Terrorist”.
Profile No. 0742 · Updated on 12 October 2026
§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology
Case · 2 documented stages
2014–2015
In May 2014, a federal jury in Manhattan found Abu Hamza guilty on all 11 counts, relating notably to the 1998 hostage-taking in Yemen, a planned terrorist training camp in Oregon and support for violent jihad in Afghanistan. In January 2015, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Last verified: 5 September 2026
2004–2012
Following the US extradition request, Abu Hamza pursued numerous appeals in the United Kingdom and before the European Court of Human Rights, notably concerning detention conditions and life sentences. In 2012, the Convention-based objections were rejected and final British appeals failed, allowing his extradition to the United States.
Last verified: 5 September 2026
2003–2010
The British government initiated proceedings to deprive Abu Hamza of British citizenship. In 2010, SIAC allowed his appeal after concluding that deprivation would leave him stateless because he was no longer an Egyptian citizen.
Last verified: 5 September 2026
2004–2006
In February 2006, Abu Hamza was found guilty on 11 counts, including six counts of soliciting murder, several offences related to incitement to racial hatred, possession of recordings intended to stir up such hatred and possession of a document likely to be useful in preparing a terrorist act. He received a total sentence of seven years; his appeal was dismissed.
Last verified: 5 September 2026
2003
Following the destruction of space shuttle Columbia, Abu Hamza said the disaster was divine punishment and used wording referring to the presence of Americans, a Jewish Israeli astronaut and a Hindu astronaut, prompting widespread criticism.
Last verified: 5 September 2026
2002–2003
After suspending him, the Charity Commission removed Abu Hamza from his position at Finsbury Park mosque. Its report concluded that he and his supporters had taken control of the mosque, sidelined the trustees and were responsible for mismanagement or misconduct in the charity's administration.
Last verified: 5 September 2026
2002
Abu Hamza was among the speakers at the 'A Towering Day in History' conference organised at Finsbury Park on the first anniversary of 9/11, a meeting presented around the positive consequences of the attacks and strongly contested.
Last verified: 5 September 2026
2002
The US Treasury designated Abu Hamza al-Masri a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in April 2002, resulting in the blocking of assets within US jurisdiction.
Last verified: 5 September 2026
No documented link with another published profile for now.
Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.
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