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Britain's most high-profile Islamist cleric charged with IS support

LONDON, Aug 5 (Reuters) Anjem Choudary, well-known for praising the Sept. 11 attacks, was accused of using lectures published online to encourage Islamic State support.
Britain’s most high-profile Islamist cleric charged with IS support
Activist Anjem Choudary leaves London Central Mosque after speaking at a rally calling for British Muslims not to vote as part of the Stay Muslim Don't Vote campaign in London on April 3, 2015. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett
Reuters
Activist Anjem Choudary leaves London Central Mosque after speaking at a rally calling for British Muslims not to vote as part of the Stay Muslim Don't Vote campaign in London on April 3, 2015. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett

Activist Anjem Choudary leaves London Central Mosque after speaking at a rally calling for British Muslims not to vote as part of the Stay Muslim Don’t Vote campaign in London on April 3, 2015. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett

LONDON  (Reuters) — Anjem Choudary, Britain’s most high-profile Islamist preacher, well-known globally for praising the men responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, was charged on Wednesday with inviting support for the Islamic State (IS).

Choudary, 48, was accused of using lectures published online for encouraging support for the banned organization, which has seized territory in Syria and Iraq.


“Following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, we have today authorized charges against Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Mizanur Rahman,” said Sue Hemming, Head of Special Crime and Counter Terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service.

READ: US must ‘destroy’ Islamic State, say religious conservatives

“It is alleged that Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman invited support for (IS) in individual lectures, which were subsequently published online.”

The two men are due to appear later on Wednesday (Aug. 5) at Westminster Magistrates Court in London.

(Reporting by Michael Holden.)

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