Arrested Again: UK Failed To Break Anjem Choudary's Unyielding Devotion to Islam

In a significant and long-awaited development, 56-year-old Anjem Choudary, a notorious Islamic preacher often labeled as spewing “hate-filled” Islamic rhetoric, has once again been apprehended on terrorism charges. This time, he was taken into custody alongside another man who had arrived at London’s Heathrow airport from Canada, with the arrests occurring on July 18th, 2023. Despite his controversial reputation, it is worth noting that Choudary’s statements align closely with Islamic scriptures, which he is well-versed in. However, the media often portrays him as distorting Islam, leading to a stark contrast in public perception.

Choudary, who originally trained as a lawyer, has been a high-profile figure in the United Kingdom, vehemently advocating for implementing Islamic Sharia law. His association with the banned terrorist group al-Muhajiroun and his role as their former spokesperson have only added to his infamy.

This arrest comes after Choudary’s previous imprisonment in 2016, where he was found guilty of promoting support for ISIS. His radical preaching is believed to have influenced numerous individuals, inspiring what has been referred to as “a generation of terrorists.” Among those influenced were Usman Khan, Michael Adebolajo—infamous for his involvement in the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in 2013—and Khuram Butt, the London Bridge terror gang leader responsible for the tragic attack in June 2017.

Despite the outrage and widespread concern surrounding Choudary’s release from prison in 2018, where he served only half of his original sentence, he continued to pose a significant threat to society. Unfortunately, British sentencing guidelines necessitate automatic eligibility for parole after serving half of a sentence, even for individuals deemed to still be a risk to public safety. Disturbingly, there is a concerning trend of convicted jihadis being released from prison at a rate of one per week. Shockingly, over 40% of individuals found guilty of terrorism offenses in the last decade, as reported by The Times, were eligible for release.

After his release from prison, Choudary was absurdly ordered to participate in Britain’s first compulsory “deradicalization” program, the Desistance and Disengagement Program (DDP), as part of his probation. The main question is how one can effectively deradicalize someone following the Qur’an and other Islamic texts. The DDP required him to receive mentoring and theological “advice,” but it proved to be yet another failed attempt by the government to address the growing jihadist threat.

In essence, the government’s approach to combating the heightened Islamic threat through the DDP has once again been proven to be ineffective, raising serious questions about the government’s methods of countering the Islamic threat.

Anjem Choudary had a remarkably candid approach to discussing Islamic views during his interactions with the media, which often granted him an advantage, especially in confrontational interviews. The hosts would typically attempt to refute Choudary’s understanding of Islam, portraying him as a radical outlier while inadvertently finding themselves defending Islam’s principles.

In reality, Choudary was steadfast in his belief that he was merely following Islamic scriptures and history. This pattern of open honesty can be traced back over a decade, with some examples provided below:

One such video predates 2012, where Choudary explains that, according to Islamic teachings, the term “innocent” refers specifically to a Muslim, regardless of their actions. Thus, Islam forbids the killing of innocent Muslims. However, those who have not embraced Islam are considered guilty of rejecting it and are therefore not deemed innocent, making them subject to the possibility of being killed.

Below, Anjem is secretly filmed giving an underground motivational talk to groups of Muslims. In it, he encourages taking money from the government, stating that it is Allah’s money, not the British government’s. He suggests calling it the “Jihad Seeker’s Allowance,” possibly insinuating that the funds should be used to promote or wage jihad.

As mentioned, Choudary was sentenced in the UK in September 2016. The following is a mainstream media video discussing the arrest.

Choudary expounds on his perspectives regarding Islam, which, in essence, align closely with Islam’s own views of itself.

Choudary previously praised and worked with Muslim Sharia patrols operating in London:

Sharia Police patrol the streets of London, harass women, gays, & non-muslims while threatening the overthrow of the UK & U.S. Governments! pic.twitter.com/JiGs0Xkcvv

— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) May 3, 2017

As Choudary is apprehended once again on terrorism charges, the United Kingdom faces a critical test of its competence in handling dangerous Muslims like him. Past instances of releasing him from prison and failed attempts at deradicalization have only intensified his threat to society.

As the UK faces the latest arrest of this dangerous Islamic cleric, the nation must confront its past failures and devise a more effective strategy to safeguard its citizens from the influence of Islamic terrorists.