2010 • Islam for U.K • Anjem Choudary • Maajid Nawaz

Anjem Choudary claims pride in receiving £25,000 a year in Dole Queue Benefits from Her Majesty’s government because he said “the money belongs to Allah and not to the British taxpayer." 

In 2010 the Home Secretary banned Islam4UK, a group Choudary founded with a stated goal to “Islamize Britain and replace the Constitution with Shariah” the Islamic legal code. 

Asked about the dole receipts, the 42-year old solicitor and a serving judge in one of Britain’s 85 Sharia courts said “I am not doing anything illegal. If we were living under the Shariah there would be free food, clothing and shelter for all. Whether you are on benefits or not that does not mean you cannot propagate your ideas. I have always remained within the ambit of the law. The money belongs to Allah and if it is given you can take it. You don't lie and you don't cheat. That is what the prophet said.” 

English-born ex-terrorist Maajid Nawaz, who has been through a fair bit of hell including a stint in Mubarak’s prison, is Director of Quilliam Foundation a counter-extremism think tank in Britain set up “to address the unique challenges of citizenship, identity, and belonging in a globalized world. Quilliam stands for religious freedom, equality, human rights and democracy.”

In a hilarious encounter on BBC’s Newsnight, Nawaz snipes Choudary, his former solicitor, at will. The ex-terrorist turns on the heat and reduces the sitting judge of a Shariah Court to a babbling comic but then, given the reverence of the cleric in the Arab world, it is safe to assume the outcome may have been different if program was hosted by al-Manar or even al-Jazzera.

The usual nuance of debate and dissemination is dimmed in the melee but not lost as Nawaz smiles gently at Choudary at the end. It is comforting to note that warring personalities no matter how bitter on-stage may be best of friends off-stage. 

Words – Tommy Peters

Courtesy of BBC2 (used without permission)

(Advanced appreciation is rendered for materials used without express permission of copyright owners – Tommy Peters)

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