Anjem Choudary's Appeal Against Terror Conviction Dismissed by Court
Notorious Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has lost his legal challenge against both his conviction and his life sentence at the Court of Appeal. The 59-year-old radical, who was instrumental in radicalizing dozens of Islamic extremists including the killers of soldier Lee Rigby, will now likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Unarguable Case and Exceptional Gravity
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, three senior judges comprehensively dismissed Choudary's appeal bid. Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Goose and Judge Alan Conrad KC, stated there was a 'strong case' against Choudary that was 'abundantly supported' by evidence. The judge declared that Choudary's attempt to challenge his conviction was 'unarguable'.
Furthermore, the court found that his sentence was not 'arguably manifestly excessive or wrong in principle'. Lord Justice Edis emphasized that the offending was of 'exceptional gravity, persistence and duration'. Choudary was sentenced in 2024 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years, meaning he will not be eligible for release until he is at least 85 years old.
Caretaker Role in Banned Terror Organisation
Choudary, formerly of Ilford in east London, was convicted in July 2024 of taking a 'caretaker role' in directing the proscribed terrorist organisation Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) while its founder, Omar Bakri Muhammed, was imprisoned. Prosecutors successfully argued that he encouraged support for the group through online lectures delivered to the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), which was identified as another name for ALM.
During the original trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Tom Little KC, for the Crown, told jurors that Choudary 'filled the void' to lead ALM while founder Muhammad served a prison sentence in Lebanon between 2014 and 2023. Sentencing Choudary, Mr Justice Wall said he was 'front and centre in running a terrorist organisation' and that his views were 'entrenched and abhorrent to most right-thinking people'.
Co-Defendant's Appeal Also Dismissed
The Court of Appeal also dismissed the appeal bid of Choudary's co-defendant, Khaled Hussein. The 31-year-old, a member of the Islamic Thinkers Society living in Edmonton, Canada, had sought to challenge his sentence of five years in prison with an extra year on licence for being a member of ALM.
Lord Justice Edis stated that Hussein was 'not an inert and inactive member' of the organisation, but was instead 'doing what he could to further its aims'. His appeal was therefore rejected alongside that of Choudary.
Long History of Extremism and Radicalisation
Choudary has been a leading figure within ALM since its foundation in the late 1990s. Although the group officially disbanded in 2004, it continued to operate secretly under various names, including the Saved Sect. Choudary took charge from 2005 after then-leader Omar Bakri Muhammed fled the UK for Lebanon.
The court heard that ALM, proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in 2010, has been linked to at least 16 terror plots. Senior members travelled to Syria to join Islamic State, including Siddhartha Dhar, a key lieutenant who appeared in an ISIS execution video in January 2016.
Choudary's extensive connections to terrorism include associations with:
- Woolwich killer Michael Adebolajo
- London Bridge terrorist Khuram Butt
- Fishmongers' Hall attacker Usman Khan
He previously celebrated the 9/11 attacks as a 'towering day in history', and the group's former leader labelled the 7/7 attackers the 'fantastic four'.
Rebuilding Efforts and Undercover Operation
The court was told that after Choudary's release from licence conditions following a previous conviction in 2016 for supporting Islamic State, he immediately began trying to rebuild ALM. He delivered more than 40 lectures in a single year to audiences of up to 150 people across the world and communicated directly with recruits as young as 14 via WhatsApp and Telegram.
Choudary and Hussein were ultimately arrested after undercover law enforcement officers in the United States infiltrated the ITS, attending lectures in 2022 and 2023.
Legal Arguments Rejected
In written submissions for Wednesday's hearing, Paul Hynes KC, representing Choudary, argued that Mr Justice Wall was wrong to admit evidence of third parties committing acts of terrorism while Choudary directed ALM. He claimed that convictions of others connected to ALM were 'overwhelmingly and irremediably prejudicial' as they exposed Choudary to conviction based on guilt by association.
The Crown Prosecution Service, represented again by Tom Little KC, opposed the appeal bids. In their ruling, the appeal judges found it 'impossible' to say that Mr Justice Wall's decision to admit the evidence 'was not one that was properly open to him to reach'.
With this final legal avenue now closed, Anjem Choudary's life sentence stands firm, ensuring one of Britain's most notorious radical preachers will remain incarcerated for decades to come.
