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September 18, 2006

UK: Islamist Calls For Pope's Death

Our last entry concerned a disgraceful protest made outside Westminster Cathedral yesterday, while worshippers attended Mass. I surmised that those behind this protest were members of the now-banned group Al Ghurabaa. On February 3 a similar demonstration happened outside the Danish Embassy over the cartoon issue and at the time I suggested that the hostile demonstration was the work of Al Ghurabaa. I was right then, and I have now been proved right about the Westminster Cathedral incident.

There is something creepy about being able to spot an Islamist faction in action. Today the Daily Mail reports that Anjem Choudary, who headed Al Ghurabaa and organised the February 3 demonstration, was leading the demonstraters yesterday. And his words were once again words of threat. He openly stated to all who would listen that anyone who insulted the so-called prophet of Islam should be "subject to capital punishment".

The British justice system has encouraged Choudary to act in this manner. On July 4, he was given a trivial fine of £500 ($921) for organising Feb 3's illegal demonstration and £300 court costs ($553). Cheaper than paying for an advertisement in a single national newspaper, this stunt proved how inexpensive it is to gain publicity. His followers, carrying placards reading "Behead those who insult Islam", "Europe. Take some lessons from 9/11", "Europe you will pay. Demolition is on its way", "Europe you will pay. Your extermination is on its way," "Slay those who insult Islam," "Butcher those who insult Islam," received global coverage in newspapers, television reports and websites around the world.

So it was hardly surprising that Anjem Choudary, formerly a major player in the now-disbanded group Al Muhajiroun, should repeat his performance outside Westminster Cathedral. For an insight into Al Ghurabaa's perspectives, we have a transcript of a BBC documentary on Al Ghurabaa and its cloned group the Saviour/Saved Sect. And we also have a feature on Choudary in our "Faces of Fanatacism" series.

Choudary is a disciple of Al-Muhajiroun's founder and spiritual leader Omar Bakri Mohammed who is currently exiled in Lebanon. In July, UK Home Secretary John Reid announced that AL Ghurabaa and the Saviour/Saved Sect were to be outlawed. We warned that another group set up by Choudary in November last year, Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah was not banned, and it contains exactly the same core members as both the Saviour/Saved Sect and Al Ghurabaa.

Al Ghurabaa/Saviour/Saved Sect/Jamaah members have been given no substantial punishments. Choudary and another former Al Muhajiroun member Abu Muwahhid blatantly defy the terms of Britain's Terrorism Act 2006, by "glorifying terrorism."

Schedule 1, section 1 (3) of the act prohibits any statement which:

"(a) glorifies the commission or preparation (whether in the past, in the future or generally) of such acts or offences; and (b) is a statement from which those members of the public could reasonably be expected to infer that what is being glorified is being glorified as conduct that should be emulated by them in existing circumstances."

By calling for the Pope to be killed, even if it is phrased as "subject to capital punishment", Choudary (a former lawyer) is still glorifying terrorism. He is also breaking the law on incitement to murder.

Last Saturday (September 9), Choudary appeared on a UK TV documentary on Channel 4, entitled "The Fundamentalists" (7.15 pm). On this show, Choudary discussed his belief that anyone who insults the "prophet" Mohammed should be killed, in accordance with historical Islamic precedent. He said that during the lifetime of the so-called prophet, people were killed for insulting him. He continued these arguments in a radio phone-in program featuring Tariq Ramadan, grandson of Hassan al Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood. Ramadan was shocked, and outraged at Choudary's statements, and condemned him for "perverting" Islam.

The show also displayed a page from Choudary's Al Ghurabaa website, entitled "Kill Those Who Insult the Prophet (saw)". This an extract of that article, written by Choudary himself:

"At the time of the Messenger Muhammad (saw) there were individuals like these who dishonoured and insulted him upon whom the Islamic judgement was executed. Such people were not tolerated in the past and throughout the history of Islam were dealt with according to the Shariah. Ka'ab ibn Ashraf was assassinated by Muhammad ibn Maslamah for harming the Messenger Muhammad saw) by his words, Abu Raafi' was killed by Abu Ateeq as the Messenger ordered in the most evil of ways for swearing at the( prophet, Khalid bin Sufyaan was killed by Abdullah bin Anees who cut off his head and brought it to the prophet for harming the Messenger Muhammad (saw) by his insults, Al-Asmaa bintu Marwaan was killed by Umayr bin Adi' al-Khatmi, a blind man, for writing poetry against the prophet and insulting him in it, Al-Aswad al-Ansi was killed by Fairuz al-Daylami and his family for insulting the Messenger Muhammad (saw) and claiming to be a prophet himself. This is the judgement of Islam upon those who violate, dishonor and insult the Messenger Muhammad (saw)."

Unfortunately the website is now inactive since John Reid's ban, and I do not think I have full copies of this article on my hard drive. Other wise I would be reproducing it in its entirety.

According to the Daily Mail today, Choudary said outside Westminster Cathedral: "The Muslims take their religion very seriously and non-Muslims must appreciate that and that must also understand that there may be serious consequences if you insult Islam and the prophet. Whoever insults the message of Mohammed is going to be subject to capital punishment."

As a former lawyer, he covered himself from potential legislation by adding a caveat: "I am here to have a peaceful demonstration. But there may be people in Italy or other parts of the world who would carry that out. I think that warning needs to be understood by all people who want to insult Islam and want to insult the prophet of Islam."

This is not a warning - it is a threat and it is an act of incitement. It is not an act of peaceful protest, and it was not a legal protest. Yet a Scotland Yard spokesperson said: "We have had no complaints about this. There were around 100 people at the demonstration. It passed off peacefully and there were no arrests."

Why were there no arrests? What is the purpose of having laws, such as those prohibiting unauthorised demonstrations or preventing "glorification of terrorism" or "incitement to murder"?

What is obvious to me is that these former individuals of Al Muhajiroun do support murder, and have no respect for "man-made laws". As such they have already come out of the woodwork to declare themselves as our "enemy".

Al Muhajiroun is thought by some analysts to have been involved with organising the liaison between two British Muslims, Omar Khan Sharif and Asif Hanif to travel to Israel where they were "processed" by terror group Hamas. On April 30, 2003, Asif Hanif from Hounslow detonated a suicide belt outside the sea-front bar "Mike's Bar" in Tel Aviv. Three people were killed and 60 injured. Omar Sharif's bomb failed to go off, and he was found a fortnight later, floating in the sea.

Omar Sharif was a member of Al Muhajiroun, at the time when Anjem Choudary was its leader.

There is nothing quaint or harmless about Choudary. He is trying to start a war. At present, the war is being fought with microphones, and is polarising communities. But the war that all the former Al Muhaijiroun members are trying to start is one that will have Britain and other nations under the rule of Islam. And to achieve this, violence must be provoked.

Choudary should be removed from society and kept under lock and key. The law should be enforced and he should be seen to be punished under the law. Failure to do so undermines every aspect of the current moves to counter terrorism. Radical Islam's battle against the West has now chosen poor Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church as its targets.

There is nothing more offensive and insulting than threatening to have a person killed because of their beliefs. This is terrorism, as it serves to intimidate Islam's critics into silence. Enough is enough. People should realise that Islam, with its constant outbreaks of "outrage" is being the aggressor here. And if we do not act to stop the aggression now, then the events of 7/7 will be as nothing to what will develop in the near future. If Islam is peaceful (which it never was) it should condemn such threats. The fact that Benedict XVI is the one being intimidated into submission by Islamists' threats around the globe says a lot about the nature of the enemy we face.

A short video of the demonstration, originally from Fox News, is on Little Green Footballs, and photographs taken by Joee Bloggs on Catholic Londoner give a clear picture of the nature of the protest.

UPDATE: The Redhill and Reigate Life announces that the Metropolitan Police are only now deciding to investigate the protest, following complaints from the public.

"Detectives from the MPS are reviewing material gathered at yesterday's demonstration outside Westminster Cathedral and subsequent complaints made to police," a spokesperson said.

Tarique Ghaffur, himself a Muslim, is in charge of Public Order Policing. He said: "We have a long history of facilitating lawful demonstration and are keen to continue dialogue with any group wishing to protest. However, what we will not allow is for people to attend demonstrations and break the law. Currently officers are looking at what took place yesterday, and also other publicly made statements, with a view to ascertain if any criminal offences have been committed. We will always proportionately police all protest but equally will take decisive action where crime is committed."

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 18, 2006 7:43 AM

Comments

Posted by: Sir Henry Morgan at September 18, 2006 8:18 AM

Posted by: UKeric at September 18, 2006 10:38 AM

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