A court in Britain has handed down a life sentence to radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary on Tuesday for leading a terrorist group.
This decision follows Choudary's conviction as the "head" of "al-Muhajiroun," a group striving to create an Islamic caliphate in the UK. The British government designated the group as a terrorist entity in 2010.
Several members of the group have been linked to the 2013 killing of a British soldier, Lee Rigby, and assaults on the London Bridge in 2017 and 2019.
"Groups like yours normalize violence in the name of a belief," Judge Mark Wall stated to Choudary during the trial at London's Woolwich Crown Court.
"Their presence emboldens members to engage in acts they might not have otherwise committed. They create divisions among people who could and would peacefully coexist."
Choudary's sentence includes a minimum of 28 years, with a parole eligibility age of 85.
The judge justified the severe sentence by noting Choudary's role in recruiting young men to radical activities.
Choudary was previously sentenced to five and a half years in prison in 2016 for his support of the "Islamic State" group, which he was released early in 2018.
His arrest for his leadership in al-Muhajiroun occurred following an undercover operation by the American police, which discovered the group was still active under various aliases, including the New York-based "Islamic Thinkers Society." This discovery led to investigations in Britain and Canada.
Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner of the New York Police Department described Choudary's conviction as "historic" due to his influential role, calling him a "shameless, prolific radicalizer."
"It's typically the individuals brought into the network who commit the attacks and are subsequently prosecuted," she explained to reporters.
