Anjem Choudary appears in court charged with directing terrorist organisation

Extremist preacher Anjem Choudary has appeared in court charged with directing a terrorist organisation and other offences.

The 56-year-old was charged on Sunday alongside Canadian national Khaled Hussein, following their arrest last week.

Choudary is accused of directing the US-based Islamic Thinkers Society, which prosecutors allege is the same organisation as the banned al-Muhajiroun (ALM).

He is also accused of membership of the group, and addressing meetings where he encouraged support for it between June 2022 and this month.

Choudary, of Ilford in east London, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

In a separate hearing, 28-year-old Mr Hussein, from Edmonton in Canada, appeared charged with one count of being a member of a proscribed organisation.

He was arrested at Heathrow Airport after arriving on a flight on 17 July, while Choudary was arrested at his London home on the same day.

Both men were remanded in custody to appear ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey on 4 August.

Nick Price, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Counter Terrorism Division, said: “The CPS has authorised charges in relation to Anjem Choudary and Khaled Hussein under the Terrorism Act.

“The charges relate to the proscribed organisation al-Muhajiroun, also known as the Islamic Thinkers Society.

“Criminal proceedings against Mr Choudary and Mr Hussein are now active and they each have the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”