Ilford extremist preacher Anjem Choudary applies to appeal ISIS support conviction
Radical cleric Anjem Choudary, of Hampton Road, Ilford, is seeking to appeal his conviction of raising support for ISIS. Picture: Hannah McKay/PA - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Extremist preacher Anjem Choudary has applied for permission to appeal his conviction for drumming up support for Islamic State or ISIS.
The 49-year-old, of Hampton Road, Ilford, was jailed for five-and-a-half-years earlier this month after encouraging backing for the terrorist group in a series of talks posted on YouTube.
Choudary recognised a caliphate had been created under ISIS in June 2014.
He finally fell foul of the law after spending two decades as a thorn in the side of UK authorities, with a string of former supporters going on to be convicted of terrorism.
Today the Judicial Office confirmed Choudary had applied for permission to appeal his conviction.
The married father of five was convicted of the little-used offence of inviting support for a proscribed organisation after spending years with impunity as a leading figure in the banned terrorist group al-Muhajiroun.
Former supporters included the murderers of soldier Lee Rigby, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, and suspected ISIS executioner Siddhartha Dhar.
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But Choudary, who courted media attention, seemed untouchable, sparking rumours that he was being used as an MI5 honeypot – an idea swiftly dismissed by police.
Investigators were eventually able to pin him down when he pledged an oath of allegiance to ISIS that was posted online.
Choudary’s application for permission to appeal was lodged in early September and is currently being processed before it will be heard by a single judge.
