Anjem Choudary shunned by imams

Anjem Choudary, known at the Islamist hate preacher, has been told that he is not welcome at mosques across London, following his release from prison. The 51-year-old man is...

Anjem Choudary, known at the Islamist hate preacher, has been told that he is not welcome at mosques across London, following his release from prison.

The 51-year-old man is freed from jail and is only permitted to attend a single place of worship that has been approved by officials from the Ministry of Justice.

Choudary was asked to submit a list of mosques that he wished to visit, however, when they were approached by the authorities asking if they had objected to him attending, many of the imams said that he would not be welcome.

Other mosques in the capital also contacted officials ahead of his release to say that they did not want him turning up at their premises.

“As part of his strict licensing conditions, Choudary is only permitted to attend one mosque that has been given prior approval,” the source said. “He was asked to submit a list of his preferred options, and then they were asked if they would be willing to accommodate him.”

“However it was clear that many of the mosques he wanted to visit did not want him mixing with their worshippers.”

Eventually, a suitable mosque was found, and the controversial cleric was taken from his north London probation hostel to the place of worship

Disapproval for the preacher from fellow Muslims is reminiscent of a number of YouTube video posted before his incarceration in which the preacher was berated by other Muslims who claimed his brand of extremism was not welcome within their community.

Outside his probation hostel located in Camden, one fellow resident emerged explaining how Choudary had not made any friends within the unit.

“A few of us are really shocked to see this guy living here,” he said. “They should put him somewhere else. He’s not made any friends yet. He’s keeping himself very much to himself.”

“It’s very strict; everyone has separate rooms. They do random room checks to see what we have. There’s certain stuff we’re not allowed to have – like drugs and things that contravene the hostel’s health and safety rules.”

Choudary is currently staying in a room with a single bed and television within the six-storey hostel. He has access to a shared kitchen and washing facilities.

 

 

 

Another inmate said he had seen Choudary in the block. However, Choudary and was understood to be staying in his room and never left the building.

A few supporters of the Far Right activist Tommy Robinson had also gathered at the bail hostel before leaving around lunchtime.

One man, who did not want to be named, said: “I’m just down here to see what scum we have in the neighbourhood now.”

The father of five is said to have applied for legal aid to try to fight the strict 25 rules that limit his movements and actions while serving the rest of his prison term on release from prison.

These include, whom he can associate with, what mosque he can visit and that he should not use the internet or speak to anyone aged under 18.

It is believed that the human rights lawyers Birnberg Peirce, has written to the Ministry of Justice, saying that the restrictions breach Choudary‘s human rights.

If he breaks the conditions, he will be returned to prison to complete the remaining half of his five-and-a-half year sentence for pledging an oath of allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (Isil).

Choudary was released from Belmarsh prison after serving half of his sentence. Despite being accused of radicalising numerous young Muslims, some of whom committed terrorist attacks here and abroad, Choudary was only convicted of one terrorism offence, that of inciting support for Isil.

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