In a surprising twist, it’s been revealed that a British diplomat, who works for the Foreign Office, rented out her terraced house to Anjem Choudary, a notorious Islamist preacher.
Choudary, who is 57, moved into the three-bedroom home in Essex with his family just weeks before counter-terrorism officers conducted a dramatic dawn raid at the property. This house, valued around £550,000, was where Choudary was allegedly running his operations while directing the extremist group al-Muhajiroun (ALM).
The local community was taken aback by Choudary’s presence.
A nearby married couple shared their concerns, noting that they avoided Choudary and advised their children to do the same. They mentioned that even the local mosque was uncomfortable with his presence and would not allow him to preach there.
The property had been listed for rent last June, suggesting Choudary’s wife and family moved in during a period when he was facing terror charges.
Choudary was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court for directing a terrorist organization, becoming the first Brit to be found guilty under the country’s anti-terror laws.
The conviction followed a large-scale operation involving law enforcement agencies from the UK, Canada, and the US. He was charged with directing, being a member of, and encouraging support for a proscribed organization. Canadian Khalid Hussein, 29, was also found guilty of being part of the banned group.
Choudary’s Radical Activities
After serving a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence for supporting ISIS, Choudary resumed his radical activities almost immediately upon his release in 2018.
He began recruiting young followers and delivering over 40 lectures within a year, including to audiences from around the world. His online sermons, including those to the New York-based Islamic Thinkers’ Society (ITS), were monitored by undercover law enforcement.
Community Reactions
At the local Masjid Adam Mosque on Seven Kings Road, Choudary’s presence was short-lived. Although he attended a few times, he was banned from preaching there.
A trustee at the mosque mentioned that while Choudary did not cause issues during his visits, his past meant they would not allow him to preach. Neighbors were also vocal about their dissatisfaction, with one calling him “mental” and another criticizing him for creating division.
Overall, the community was unhappy with Choudary’s presence, particularly given his controversial past and the negative attention it brought to their neighborhood.
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