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Islamist sect banned as security threat 'is recruiting teenagers'
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter19.09.08
A militant Islamic sect banned by the Government as a threat to national security has launched a campaign to radicalise teenagers in east London, the Evening Standard can reveal.
Al-Muhajiroun, headed by exiled cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed, tonight begins a recruitment drive targeting young Muslims - despite being outlawed under terror laws introduced in the wake of the 7/7 suicide bomb attacks on London.
Several members of the sect have been jailed in recent years for terror-related offences but there are fears the group is thriving again under a new name.
The group has launched a website, Islam4uk.com.
It is advertising its first youth conference, entitled Muslim Youth: The Spark of the Fire, at a community centre in Walthamstow - close to the homes of six men who face a retrial over a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners. Islam4uk.com is a reincarnation of al-Muhajiroun in all but name. It is headed by Bakri Mohammed, now living in Lebanon, and his deputy Anjem Choudary, its official spokesman.
The two have kept a relatively low profile since the 7 July attacks on London in 2005 but have become emboldened in recent weeks.
The youth conference tonight is being addressed by two notorious extremists, Abu Uzair and Abu Waleed.
Uzair, 40, who was a follower of jailed preacher Abu Hamza at Finsbury Park mosque, sprang to prominence when he praised the 9/11 hijackers as " magnificent" and claimed that if he knew terrorists were planning a suicide attack, he would not alert police.
In an interview with the BBC, Uzair declared: "We don't live in peace with you any more. The banner has been risen for jihad inside the UK, which means it's allowed for bombers to attack."
Waleed, another disciple of Hamza's, was caught on video earlier this year making a joke about Muslims taking backpacks on to the London Underground.
Having laid low for the past three years - since Bakri was forced to live in exile in Lebanon - there is concern al-Muhajiroun is growing in strength.
At a meeting last Thursday - as first reported by the Standard - almost 100 Muslims attended to hear a live video link-up with Bakri.
Andrew Dismore, the Labour MP for Hendon, who first called for al-Muhajiroun to be banned 10 years ago, said today: "This new group needs to be banned. Islam4uk is clearly just another side of the same coin.
"This shows the real difficulty with these splinter groups. The fact they are now getting 100 people to their meetings is very alarming."
Reader views (19)
I am a Muslim. This group and it's ideas has nothing do do with Islam and Muslims. They misqoute verses from the qur'an and interpret them incorrectly to mislead people. They are nothing but attention seekers.
This group should be banned.
- Tiaq, London
Why are we so surprised? This government is so bent out of shape about the human rights of this filth that it cannot ensure the human right to safety for those of us who want nothing to do with them or to have them preaching violence to Muslim youngsters.
Well, I am no dhimmi
- Sarah Vey, UK
Our inability to tackle these extremists is unfortunately all down to the ridiculous decision by our terrific 
Labour government to sign up to the human rights act... This is why i'll be voting Conservative at the next election and hope they rescind it and get rid of this stupid act which only seems to protect the hoodlums and fanatics....
- Jim, London, UK
Its like that even in here in Australia, I bet if you are a Christian and living in a Muslim country you would have to live by their rules.
- K Lewis, Australia
This filth like bakri (i didn't use a capital b for his name on purpose)should be wiped off the face of the planet. Period.
And to think we work hard and pay for this human filths family, what a sad country this has become, why did we ever bother defeating Hitler if this is what we have come to?
- P Staker, london
the people who wish to create havoc in the U.K should be either deported or in prison. the soft approach will bring bombings and loss of life.
- Alan Collins, san diego. ca. america
We are reeping what Governments have sown. Immigration from the third world has destoyed what used to be a peaceful nation. We need to stop all further immigration from the third world as a matter of priority. We can't go on like this. We didn't vote for any of this, it was forced upon us.
- Sylvia, Essex
Since Bakri Mohammed fled to the Lebanon, why are BRitish taxpayers supporting his wife and family here in London. They were allowed here with him. with him gone, why aren't they sent to join him in the wonderful Middle East?
- Oc, London
As we all know, Muslims can do no wrong in the eyes of this wet, weak Labour government.
- Vince London, West London
It is no surprise to anyone who keeps an eye on current affairs that these hatemongers are free to carry on with business as usual.
Our politically correct establishment are shackled by their own left-liberal dogma when it comes to dealing with their like. They simply don't know what to do when faced with such a conflict of ideologies, so choose to pretend that the problem doesn't exist accusing anyone that contradicts them of "Islamophobia" and/or racism.
Al-Muhajiroun are enemies of Britain, but then so are NuLabour, which is why they are so keen to maintain the status quo whilst pretending that they're taking action to protect us.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Hussain, I applaud you in your stance. What we need are muslims, like yourself, to stand up and picket these meetings (much like many white people do outside far right meetings).
The problem is that media representation gives the impression that muslims at large silently support/condone the actions of these extremists. Until a muslim group steps up and takes a hard line, that perception will continue.
- Scott, London
Thank you Hussain for stating the REAL message of Islam.
This group, unsurprisingly are allowed to flourish in a politically correct one-sided environment that is the UK. If a white extremist group did the same, it would be raided by every copper in London, its leaders detained indefinately and any followers 'investigated'.
WHY?
- Joannie, London, England
The chap "Hussain" who commented is quite correct. However, most Muslims that i come across including those I work with labour under the naive illusion that because someone is Muslim that must be a good person. I am a devout catholic but do not believe that all Catholics are necessarily good people. We are constantly told that the vast silent majority of Muslims are good law abiding people. They are VERY silent and I suspect are tainted with the "victim syndrome" that makes them think that all Christians/white people/westerners/non Muslims are in some bizarre conspiracy to persecute them.
- Wd, London
it would be a shame if a bomb went off at their meeting in walthamstow
- Ag, The Village of London
I trust that the authorities will a) arrest anyone hosting this event and b) those who attend.
If you want an Islamic state, go live in Iran
- Adam, Harrow, UK
It is time to get tough. We must round up these radicals and deport them back to their homelands regardless of phoney human rights laws. We must protect the rights of our law abiding citizens and it is deplorable that this government puts the rights of extremists and criminals first.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
I hope to God (everyone's God no matter what religion - most of all the parents of these young people) will fight against this evil that is happening. It is no good for anyone in the UK.
- Charlie, London
Anjem Choudary has dual Pakistani/British citizenship, as do all Pakistanis. Wouldn't it be sensible to remove his British citizenship and send him back to Pakistan to incite hatred?
- Gill, Handsworth, Birmingham
I am a practicing muslim and am a strong believer in the faith.
Can i stress that this "exremist group" al-mahajiroun are in no way shape or form, Muslims.
They are a bunch of brain washed fools, who
a) Stop associating themselves with Islam!
b) Get some "religious education"
c) In the name of Allah (most gracious and merciful)
Stop killing innocent men, women and children.
.... hmmm and that includes other muslims !!
In a few short words. Get a life of your own and stop taking others!!
- Hussain, East London
