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February 4, 2008
UK: Muslim Fanatic Abu Izzadeen Stands Trial
Abu Izzadeen
News from Waltham Forest Guardian, the Press Association, the Telegraph and Metro.
Abu Izzadeen is a notorious former member of Al Muhajiroun. Shortly after 7/7, when he was involved in the now-banned groups Al Ghuraaba (the strangers) and the Saviour/Saved Sect, he shocked with his statements on BBC's Newsnight in support of acts of terrorism against Britain.
He made the headlines on September 20, 2006 when he heckled then-Home Secretary John Reid at a meeting in Leytonstone, northeast London. Izzadeen shouted at the minister: "How dare you come to a Muslim area?"
On February 5, 2007, ITV News showed a video which had been made in 2004, and had been circulating on the internet since 2006. Here, inside London's Central Mosque at Regents Park, Izzadeen was seen eulogizing the murder of British Muslims who join the UK army. He said on the video: "Whoever allies himself with the Kaffirs (non-believers) against the believers - he is one of them. So those so-called enemies to Allah who join the British Government - 'cos remember the British Government, my dear Muslim brothers, are crusaders... crusaders come to kill and rape Muslims. Whoever joins them - he who joins the British Army, the American Army, he is a mortal kaffir and his only hukum (punishment) is for his head to be removed. Indeed, whoever changes his deen (Muslim code of life); kill him."
On the morning of April 24, 2007 Izzadeen was among six people who were arrested under the terms of section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006. A police spokesman then said: "The arrests form part of a long-term pro-active and complex investigation into alleged incitement and radicalization for the purposes of terrorism, as well as alleged provision of financial support for international terrorism."
He had earlier been arrested on February 8, 2007, shortly after news of his "beheading statement" video was released. That arrest was believed to have been connected with a speech he had made at a community center in Smallheath, Birmingham on Sunday July 2, 2006. That appearance was also circulated on the internet. I have made a transcript from the video, which appears at the foot of the article. He was questioned and later bailed. He appears to have spent his time since the April arrest in custody.
The Start Of The Trial
Today, 32-year old Izzadeen appeared in Kingston Crown Court in west London, for the start of a trial. He is charged under the name Omar Brooks, the name he adopted when he first became a Muslim. His birth name is Trevor Brooks. Also on trial with Izzadeen are six other defendants.
These are Abdul Rehman Saleem, 32, Shah Jalal Hussain, 25, Rajib Khan, 29, Ibrahim Abdullah Hassan, 25, Abdul Muhid, 25, and Simon Sulayman (Suliman) Keeler, 36.
In November 2005 Keeler had launched a successor group to Al Muhajiroun, the Saved/Saviour Sect and Al Ghuraaba, assisted by Izzadeen and Anjem Choudary. This group called itself Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jammah, and on February 3, 2006 was responsible for the riots outside the Danish embassy in London, where protesters carried placards calling for the beheading of those who insult Islam.
At the launch of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jammah, Keeler (a convert to Islam) had said: "The Queen is enemy to Islam and Muslims. We are not interested in what she says, her public relations with Muslims and her subjects. We see in reality her actions all around the earth, her forces, army, navy, her air force bombing, destroying Muslims, killing our families, destroying our properties and occupying our land."
After the February 3, 2006 protests, police raided the former home of Omar Bakri Mohammed, the Syrian-born preacher who had set up Al Muhajiroun on February 16, 1996. This preacher, who had established the British branch of Hizb ut-Tahrir in 1986, had fled Britain after the London bombings of July 7, 2005, and has since lived in Lebanon.
On March 15, 2006 a DVD was recovered at Bakri's home, on which speeches were found which dated back to November 9. 2004. These speeches were made outside Regents Park Mosque, and today, the first day of the trial, they were played to the jury.
Abdul Rehman Saleem (who also is known as Abu Yahya) was shown on this DVD praising Osama bin Laden and claiming that Islam was a "religion of terrorism". He was shown saying: "Terrorism against the kuffar [non-believers], terrorism against those that terrorise us, terrorism against those that terrorise our women and children. Yes we have terrorised them so when they call you terrorist, be proud to have that title."
He started a chant: "Oh Allah support Sheikh Osama, Oh Allah destroy America," at which his audience joined in.
He said: "Destroy the kafir wherever they are. Let their blood run in the mountains of Afghanistan, let their women become widows, may their children become orphans, let them be bombed. Let death come to them by the hands of the mujahideen [holy fighters]."
Jonathan Laidlaw, prosecuting, said the speeches, which took place inside and outside Regents Park Mosque, had been in protest against the military efforts to retake Fallujah on the day before, November 8. This operation was led by US troops, assisted by the Scottish Black Watch Regiment.
Laidlaw said that the speeches of November 9 became "progressively more emotive and inflammatory and insulting in their tone." He said: "What is not permitted is speeches which are in fact appeals for money to assist with the insurgency in Iraq, the terrorist activity against British and American soldiers fighting there, or to seek to encourage volunteers to join in the jihad there."
The speeches at the mosque drew the attention of the police. These were forced to retreat after being confronted by a mob who surrounded them.
Izzadeen aka Omar Brooks, Abdul Rehman Saleem, Shah Jalal Hussain, Omar Zaheer, Simon Keeler, Rajib Khan, Ibrahim Abdullah Hassan and Abdul Muhid deny fundraising for terrorism. Five of these (Brooks, Saleem, Keeler, Khan and Ibrahim Abdullah Hassan) deny inciting terrorism overseas. Omar Brooks is charged with encouragement of terrorism. Ibrahim Abdullah Hassan is additionally accused of possessing a document for terrorist purposes, a charge he denies.
All of the accused appear to be members of Al Muhajiroun/Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jammah. Abdul Muhid and Abdul Rahman Saleem are currently in jail.
Background Of Two Of The Accused
Muhid has a long history of aggressive preaching. On August 16, 2005, Muhid was released from court after charges of inciting racial hatred were dropped. He had been distributing leaflets from a stall in Walthamstow, east London, calling for British troops in Iraq to be killed, and saying that homosexuals should be hurled off clifftops.
On July 13 2005, Muhid was arrested for violent disorder and assaulting a police officer in Chingford, on the edge of North London. Charges were again dropped. In Southall in 2005, Muhid and 50 other members of the Saviour Sect used microphones to berate passers-by. Southall has a large Sikh community, and when police were called, a fight broke out.
On March 15, 2006, the date when Bakri's home was raided, other homes were searched, and arrests were made. One of those arrested was Anjem Choudary, who had organized the February 3, 2006 rally in London. Abdul Rehman Saleem was arrested and charged with "using words likely to stir up racial hatred". He is now on trial with Izzadeen et alia. Abdul Muhid was apparently also arrested on that date. He was arrested again on May 5 with Anjem Choudary as the two tried to flee to Ireland on a plain, in breach of bail conditions. On June 26, 2006, Abdul Muhid appeared via videolink at the Old Bailey and denied two counts of soliciting murder, charges that relate to the February 3, 2006 demonstration outside the Danish Embassy in London.
Abdul Rahman Saleem, a father of five, worked as an IT worker for British Telecom and lives in Poplar in Tower Hamlets, east London. On February 1, 2007 he was found guilty of racial incitement at the Old Bailey.
On July 18 2007, Abdul Rahman Saleem was given a four year jail sentence for inciting racial hatred. Abdul Muhid, along with Mizanur Rahman and Umran Javed, was sentenced to six years' jail for soliciting murder. All three were also given three years' jail terms, to run concurrently, for stirring up race hate.
Umran Javed had been found guilty on January 5, 2007, and Mizanur Rahman was found guilty of inciting racial hatred on November 9, 2007. The jury then had been unable to make a decision on Mizanur Rahman's guilt concerning soliciting murder, though by July 18 2007, he had been convicted.
In September 2001, Abdul Rahman Saleem aka Abu Yahya had boasted that he had attended terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also met Taliban supporters in Pakistan. Back home in London, he boasted of his experiences. He said: "There is an obligation on Muslims to defend other Muslims. If I am capable to fight on the frontline then I will go and fight. I would also ask people to fulfil their divine obligations. I would ask them in the mosques, I would ask them in the community centers."
"I would ask them and I would say to the youth: 'If you can fulfil your divine obligation then by all means go and fight on the frontline.' We will do whatever we can to change the world order to an Islamic world order."
Omar Brooks/Abu Izzadeen's Smallheath Speech
Abu Izzadeen aka Omar Brooks is also charged with one count of encouragement of terrorism, following a speech he made in Smallheath, Birmingham on Sunday July 2, 2006. This is the transcript that I have made of this speech, from the video that was on the internet:
"Mr Mohammed Sidique Khan left us a will saying exactly why he took these operations up. He said 'Until we feel security, you will be our targets." And you - the journalists - you will be the targets. Yeah... and you the journalists - you will be the targets. Are you prepared to die? No you're not. Because you're cowards. You like life."
"I'm quite firm on this issue. Because I remember there was one Japanese, or South Korean, he came to Iraq, and when he was captured by the 'terrorists' - we don't support terrorism - what did he say? Did he have a stiff upper lip? Was he praying? He said (Izzadeen's voice imitates a whining child) "I don't want to die". (The audience laughs). Do you remember that? It was a very heart-wrenching time. Until you saw the bombings, the gassing, imprisonment and torture, of my people. My people - what does that mean? It's all about the global mentality. Someone who believes 'I'm a Muslim' first, last. I know as timely apportions (?), there have been many epitaphs, speeches and sermons, and then your archbishop of somewhere-or-other's going to come out and say 'Yeah, vote for peace around the world, blah, blah, blah.' But I think it's time to read Mohammed Sidique Khan's will, you'll see the answer to our problems."
"Because these people are making clear statements. 'If you stop, you'll be saved. If you don't stop, we're going to kill you - indiscriminately.' We're talking about people who like to die, the way you like to live. Do you know what that means? For the journalists especially. Friday night, and you've been working the whole week, and you're going to be spending all your money on the booze - Friday night is a Kuffs' night out. Kuffar go out on a Friday - they go to the pubs, they go to clubs, they drink, they vomit, they lose all their sanity, that's their life. And you love that!"
"They're like the animals, (he says something in Arabic) but they're worse! An animal never does that. Only kuffar do that. And, of course, we must declare, that we do not support terrorism. I don't support terrorism. I condemn the terrorism of the British government. I condemn the terrorism of the USA! Every single day, the biggest terrorist in the world is George W. Bush, and his sidekick haman (bath attendant) Tony Blair. I say (he says something in Arabic) I curse them. That's right."
"Bin Laden - he offered, before 7/7, by a few months - he made a statement where he offered to the European public - he never (made it) just (to) the governments - of sua, or gunda excuse me - the offer (of) hunda - the 'truce'. He offered to you, Madam, non-Muslim, and you sir, non-Muslim, and offered to you... The rest of us are Muslims so he knows what we want anyway - he gave it to you... Offer.. of.. truce. And did you respond, Madam? Did you respond sir? No. Therefore you're to blame as well."
"Let's talk about 9/11. They said - 9/11, 3,000 killed. Unfortunately they said it that day on the news - (word unclear) - 'That was the day that changed people's lives... Especially those inside the tower. (laughter). There was one woman - a black woman - you remember in 9/11 - she came out of the smoke and she's crying. (people laugh). I gonna cry - it's so touching, honestly. (more laughter). She came out, and she said - she's covered in sight, in sight, dust, smoke, and she goes: (his voice goes high) 'I was here the last time as well.' (more laughter) It's not a lie... It's so... so touching honestly."
"Look to Spain - example of what happened in Spain. The Spanish, too, they were part and parcel of the 'war on terror'. And the then prime minister - who sided with his ally in the White House - George W. Bush - to (unclear) the Muslims. And what did the Mujahideen do? And I say Mujahideen - obviously the word is terrorists - terrorists (unclear) anyway - the terrorists, what did they do? They decided to.. attack. In the heart of Madrid, the capital of Spain, with all the security, with all the CCTV cameras, with all the awareness about terrorism, didn't help in the end. You cannot stop someone who's determined to die. But more importantly, to take you with him."
"An Israeli soldier, he had dual citizenship, he was a French national. In the Israeli army there are numerous people, from around the world. Therefore, is France not also at risk from the terrorists? Not according to me - but if you apply the formula - I can see maybe France, could be Paris, the Eiffel Tower, who knows? It's a reality, something to be considered. I know I like to joke a lot, but if you think about it, why not?"
"The Jewish community, outside Palestine, they also have a role to play, in the condemnation of the apartheid pirate state, cancerous state, of Israel. The Jewish community in the UK they need to condemn the terrorism of the Israeli state, vocally, publicly, in the streets (have) demonstrations - boycott Israeli goods, and the Jews themselves, that should be their role. Otherwise, who knows? What could happen? 7/7.." (laughter)
"Because I believe - and it's only my own view - from surveying what's happening around the Muslim worlds (sic) - and it's taking place in the UK over the last year - I believe attacks in the UK are very likely. And I refer, once again to the chief of police who says, once again, 'inevitable", 'can't be stopped'. But I say with a slight footnote - it can be stopped. If we are willing, to stand side by side, and stop the oppression against the Muslims. And stop the occupation of the Muslim lands, stop supporting those type regimes, and maybe then, just then, as bin Laden said, in one of his statements, the offer of truce was there for all of us. If we had risen in the UK and shown that we were against the government, maybe there would have been no 7/7. But the lesson's in your own hands. If you make the effort, I'm sure that those terrorists see that, and won't bomb you again. But if you don't, you have no-one to blame but yourselves."
More information
More information can be found on Western Resistance about Izzadeen/Omar Brooks. A two part article can be found here with part two here. He also featured in our Faces of Fanaticism series.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at February 4, 2008 9:49 PM
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