Britain charges radical preacher for urging support for IS group
British authorities on Wednesday charged a radical preacher under the country’s terrorism act for urging support for the Islamic State (IS) group through lectures published online.
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Anjem Choudary, 48, is a well-known figure in Britain and is regularly interviewed by the media for his views on Islam and the Middle East. He is also the former leader of a banned radical group called al-Muhajiroun.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Choudary and a second man, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, 32, had been charged with inviting support for the IS group, a proscribed organisation, between June 29, 2014 and March 6, 2015.
"Each man is charged with one offence contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000," said Sue Hemming, head of special crime and counter-terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service.
"It is alleged that Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman invited support for IS in individual lectures which were subsequently published online."
Both men were arrested on September 25 last year on suspicion of being members of a proscribed organisation and released on police bail.
During a hearing Wednesday at London's Westminster Magistrates Court, Choudary indicated he would plead not guilty. He was ordered detained until his next court appearance August 28.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP)
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