http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1443903,00.html
January 17, 2005
Britain's online imam declares war as he calls young to jihad
By Sean O'Neil and Yaakov Lappin
Omar Bakri Mohammed, banned from many British mosques, is issuing a
call to arms to a committed audience
AN EXTREMIST London cleric is using live broadcasts on the internet
to urge young British Muslims to join al-Qaeda and has condoned
suicide terrorist attacks. Omar Bakri Mohammed, who has lived in the
UK for 18 years on social security benefits, pledged allegiance to
Osama bin Laden and told his followers that they were in a state of
war with Britain.
The Times monitored Mr Bakri Mohammed's nightly webcasts in which he
declared that the "covenant of security" under which Muslims live
peacefully in the UK had been "violated" by the Government's tough
anti-terrorist legislation, The Syrian-born radical said: "I believe
the whole of Britain has become Dar ul-Harb (land of war). In such a
state, he added, "the kuffar (non-believer) has no sanctity for
their own life or property."
In his broadcasts, conducted through an internet chatroom, Mr Bakri
Mohammed stopped short of calling for terrorist attacks in Britain.
But he said that Muslims should join the jihad "wherever you are"
and told one woman that she was permitted to become a suicide
bomber.
Mr Bakri Mohammed, 46, has indefinite leave to remain in the UK but
could be detained without trial under the Anti-Terrorism Crime and
Security Act if the Home Secretary were to decide he is a terrorist
associate.
Last Monday he told his listeners: "Al-Qaeda and all its branches
and organisations of the world, that is the victorious group and
they have the emir and you are obliged to join. There is no
need . . . to mess about." Two nights later he said that the voices
of dead Mujahidin were calling young Britons to fight. "These people
are calling you and shouting to you from far distant places: al
jihad, al jihad. They say to you my dear Muslim brothers, `Where is
your weapon, where is your weapon?' Come on to the jihad," he said.
The cleric is regarded as a fringe extremist by mainstream Muslims
and is banned from preaching at many mosques. But every night he is
using internet forums to reach an audience of between 60 and 70
committed listeners, most of whom are under 30.
He lectures for 90 minutes and his audience responds
enthusiastically, typing questions about jihad and suicide bombing
which are answered verbally. An announcement last October that Mr
Bakri Mohammed had disbanded his al-Muhajiroun movement was
welcomed. But it appears that he has regrouped and is delivering a
more hardline message through the internet and at secretive
meetings.
Speaking directly to The Times, Mr Bakri Mohammed denied that he was
calling for violent action in the UK. He said his definition of
Britain as Dar ul-Harb was "theoretical".
He added: "It means that Muslims can no longer be considered to have
sanctity and security here, therefore they should consider leaving
this country and going back to their homelands. Otherwise they are
under siege and obviously we do not want to see that we are living
under siege."
The alternative to leaving was to put pressure on the Government to
review its anti-terrorist laws, he said, and that the definition of
jihad took many forms and not simply military activity. He also
denied that he was inciting others to commit acts of violence.
Andrew Dismore, a Labour MP who has long campaigned against Mr Bakri
Mohammad's extremism, said: "With these words he may well be
committing offences under the Terrorism Act and other legislation. I
will be raising this immediately with the Home Secretary and the
Metropolitan Police."
"What happened was a direct consequence of the evil foreign policy
of the USA. This is compensation and payback for its own atrocities
against Muslims."
September 2001 on 9/11 attacks
"I am very happy today. As much as I regret the innocent people who
passed away, with the USA you must pay."
September 2001 on 9/11 attacks
"We don't want to see a September 11 in the UK and I think the
British public should take these threats very seriously."
February 2003 on danger of terror attacks in Britain
"I can sense there is frustration in the hearts of the youth and
they want action. I can see from debates and talking to people on
the internet that there are many people abroad wanting to attack
Britain."
February 2003 on anger among Muslim youth
"You must fight for the way of Allah, for the sake of Allah, to kill
first and to be killed."
March 2004 address to followers in Derby
"What happened in Madrid is all revenge. Eye for eye, tooth for
tooth, life for life."
March 2004 referring to the Madrid train bombings
"Martyrdom is what you want. Do the effort. Clear your intention. Go
forward, never look backwards. Make sure you have nothing left
behind you to think about or cry for and fight in the name of
Allah."
April 2004 addressing followers in East London
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