British-Pakistani preacher Anjem Chaudhry has been sentenced to life imprisonment for directing a terrorist organisation. Anjem Chaudhry, 57, was convicted last week of directing al-Muhajiroun (ALM). ALM was banned a decade ago. Judge Mark Wall sentenced the British-Pakistani preacher to life imprisonment. Under this, he will not be able to get parole before 28 years.
Anjem Chaudhary accused of spreading violence
The judge told Choudhury at Woolwich Crown Court in London that organizations like ALM normalize violence through online meetings. He further said about the organization, “Their purpose is to give courage to those who are their members to work. They create rifts among the people who live in unity among themselves.” According to prosecutor Tom Little, Anjem Choudhary became the organization’s caretaker Amir after its leader was jailed in Lebanon in 2014.
Police from Britain, America and Canada gathered evidence after a joint investigation. According to the evidence, Chaudhary was running ALM in New York through online speeches with his followers. Prosecutors said the group worked under several names, including the New York-based Society of Islamic Thinkers.
Was punished in 2016 also
New York Deputy Police Commissioner Rebecca Weiner described the case as historical and said that the Islamic Thinkers Society is a branch of ALM US. Chaudhary has been convicted along with one of his associates, Khaled Hussain. Hussain has been sentenced to five years in prison. Chaudhary was earlier sentenced in 2016 for encouraging support for ISIS, but was released in 2018 after serving half the sentence.