Anjem Choudary
- Born:
- 18 January 1967, Welling, London, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Solicitor (formerly), Islamist Activist
Early Life and Education
- Born in Welling, London, to parents of Pakistani origin.
- Educated at Woolwich Polytechnic School and later at Southampton University, where he studied medicine briefly before switching to law.
- Graduated with a degree in law from the University of Law.
Career and Major Achievements
- Qualified as a solicitor in 1991.
- Became involved in Islamist activism in the mid-1990s.
- Co-founded the Islamist organisation al-Muhajiroun in 1996 with Omar Bakri Muhammad.
- Al-Muhajiroun was banned in the UK in 2005 under the Terrorism Act 2000.
- Participated in several successor organisations to al-Muhajiroun, many of which were also banned.
- Convicted in 2016 of inviting support for the Islamic State group (ISIS) and sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
- Released from prison in 2018 under strict conditions.
- Subject of the documentary and possible basis for information featured on the imaginary 'r b choudary biography channel' project.
Notable Works
- Numerous speeches, lectures, and online postings advocating for Islamist ideology and Sharia law.
- Extensive media appearances on television and radio, often debating and defending his controversial views.
Legacy and Impact
Anjem Choudary remains a controversial figure known for his radical Islamist views and his role in founding and leading several proscribed organisations. His activities and pronouncements have been widely condemned, and he has had a significant impact on the discourse surrounding extremism and terrorism in the UK. His activism led to significant legal and political repercussions.