Anjem Choudary, the notorious Islamist preacher convicted of terrorism charges, has lodged an appeal against his life sentence. Choudary, 57, was sentenced in July after being found guilty of directing the terrorist organization Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) and inciting support through online lectures. Due to prior time in custody, Choudary will serve a minimum of 26 years, meaning he will remain imprisoned until at least the age of 85.
Despite his convictions, Choudary has appealed to the High Court, seeking to overturn his sentence and conviction. His former bodyguard, Abu Izzadeen, criticized the length of Choudary’s sentence as “astronomically high,” stating that it was disproportionate compared to sentences for violent offences.
The case against Choudary was built on a coordinated investigation involving the Metropolitan Police, the New York Police Department, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Authorities presented evidence that Choudary directed ALM’s activities while its founder, Omar Bakri Muhammad, was imprisoned in Lebanon. The court heard that Choudary had encouraged radicalization and provided ideological guidance through the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), which prosecutors claimed was a rebranded front for ALM.
Anthony Glees, a terrorism expert, labelled the appeal as “an appalling waste of taxpayer cash,” underscoring the risks Choudary’s influence poses. A senior security officer highlighted Choudary’s “significant impact” on public safety, describing his leadership as a continued threat to national security through global ALM influence.
Choudary’s appeal is set to be heard in the coming months, drawing continued attention to his decades-long role in extremist circles.
