British extremist Anjem Choudary, linked to numerous terrorist plots worldwide, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday for leading a banned terrorist organization.
The 57-year-old was convicted last week of directing al-Muhajiroun, a group outlawed over a decade ago. Judge Mark Wall condemned Choudary’s role in normalizing violence and dividing communities. The preacher was given a minimum term of 28 years before parole eligibility.
Known for his inflammatory rhetoric, Choudary praised the 9/11 attackers and expressed a desire to transform Buckingham Palace into a mosque. Previously jailed for supporting ISIS, he was released in 2018 before his latest conviction.
Prosecutors argued Choudary became the leader of al-Muhajiroun after another extremist was imprisoned. While the defense claimed the group was defunct, the judge ruled it was a radical organization dedicated to global Islamic rule through violence.
A Canadian associate, Khaled Hussein, was also sentenced to five years in prison for membership in the banned group.
