Anjem Choudary

Following an international investigation and a six-week trial, Choudary was found guilty in July 2024 of directing a terrorist organisation, membership of a proscribed organisation and encouraging support for a terrorist organisation. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Directly implicated

Released halfway through his sentence in 2018, Choudary was subject to particularly strict licence conditions limiting public statements, demonstrations, media appearances, online groups and contacts, with security services assessing that he remained a risk.

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Documented

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Personally implicated

Following an investigation opened in 2014, Choudary was convicted in 2016 of inviting support for Islamic State through statements disseminated online. He received a five-year-and-six-month prison sentence.

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Directly implicated

Following the murder of soldier Lee Rigby, Choudary repeatedly refused to condemn the attack explicitly during interviews. The BBC and other media outlets were criticised for giving him a platform.

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Not applicable

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Personally implicated

While travelling to France for a demonstration against the ban on full-face veils, Choudary was turned away at Calais and informed of a permanent entry ban imposed by the French Interior Minister, notably because of his role in groups banned in the United Kingdom.

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Directly implicated

Choudary and Islam4UK proposed an anti-war march in Wootton Bassett, a town associated with the repatriation of British troops killed in Afghanistan, with up to 500 symbolic coffins. The plan prompted widespread political and public condemnation before being cancelled.

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Legal status — source text

Not applicable

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Directly implicated

The British government banned Islam4UK and al-Muhajiroun, organisations linked to Choudary, making membership or support punishable under criminal law. The measure followed years of monitoring of the organisations and came shortly after the Wootton Bassett controversy.

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Choudary was found guilty of failing to give police the legally required notice before a demonstration outside the Danish embassy concerning cartoons of Muhammad. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £300 in costs.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

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Directly implicated

Choudary was the principal organiser of the 'A Towering Day in History' conference held on 11 September 2002 in Finsbury Park, advertised around the 'positive outcomes' of 9/11 with posters depicting aircraft striking the towers.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated