Why Freedom of Speech Did Not Protect Jihadist Preacher Anjem Choudary
Published on July 24, 2024
The Anjem Choudary case highlighted a strange dichotomy: that he gave lectures to Americans which were protected by freedom of speech, but was convicted of terrorist offences in Britain because the UK limits free speech. Choudary’s trial at Woolwich Crown Court, which began in June, was centred on online speeches he made between June 2022 and July 2023 to a group known as the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), which was based in New York. It was described as being the U.S. branch of Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), which was a proscribed terrorist organisation in Britain. Choudary had been convicted of supporting the ISIS terrorist group but was released from prison on Oct. 19, 2018 and was on licence until July 18, 2021....