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Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Scotland Yard finally 'widens their inquiry' into Al Muhajiroun leader Bakri after his call for UK Muslims to join Al Qaeda

Scotland Yard finally 'widens their inquiry' into Al Muhajiroun leader Bakri after his call for UK Muslims to join Al Qaeda

'Would you mind terribly not waging Jihad here?'
January 22, 2005

MIM: Now that Bakri has formally declared that the 'convenant of security' has been broken and urged his followers to wage Jihad in the UK Scotland Yard has decided to look into his activities after outcries from politicians and the public. It should be noted that the Muslim Council of Britain has made a show of repudiating Bakri. The MCB has the same goal as Al Muhajiroun, but realised that is more prudent "not to shout Jihad in a crowded movie house". Denouncing Al Muhajrioun helps them bolster their own facade as faux moderates. Now the question remains as to if the UK authorities will arrest him or wait until a country with a death penalty statute requests his extradition before taking him into 'protective' custody as was the case of his terror buddy Abu Hamza Al Masri. It is also touching to note the government's concern and that :

" Home Office Secretary Charles Clarke has offered to assist Bakri if he wishes to return to Syria or the Lebanon." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4190999.stm

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UK cleric urging Muslims to join Al Qaeda via internet -Bakri still not jailed.

http://www.indiadaily.com/breaking_news/21778.asp

Yard Intensifies probe into Al Qaeda member

Police have widened their inquiry into the activities of the radical cleric Omar Bakri Mohammad after details of his internet sermons were disclosed in the media, including the Times. He allegedly called upon young British Muslims to join Al-Qaeda and become martyrs for the jihad. Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch has been investigating reports that he uses webcasts to address his followers every night, espousing his view that Britain has become Dar-ul-Harb (land of war) for the Muslim community.]

But now according to the latest reports, he held a secret conference at The Friends Meeting House in Central London, which is the headquarter of the Quaker Movement. The meeting was reportedly attended by 600 people. His followers had booked the hall saying a health conference was to be held. The Quakers were unaware that a political meeting had been planned and are now saying they were feeling "distressed". Many speakers at the conference also delivered inflammatory messages. One said western governments would face a 9/11 day after day. The assembled, it is said, punched the air and chanted slogans as they were shown videos of hijacked jets crashing into World Trade Centre on September 9, 2001.

Omar Bakri told the gathering that if the anti-terror laws were not relaxed the response from Muslims would be "horrendous". He added: "I declare we should ourselves join the global Islamic camp against the global crusade camp." He pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden and told his listeners that they were obliged to join Al-Qaeda and the Mujahideen. In one broadcast he said: "The market of jihad has been opened, now all we need is the people who are the merchandise, the one's who want to buy jennah (paradise)… If you cannot do it physically, do it verbally, do it financially, but do it."

Sources have revealed that his disbanded Al-Muhajiroun is using software PalTalk to broadcast what amounts to mini-conferences about the world situation. Police and security officers are likely to step up monitoring of his webcasts. A Yard spokesman was quoted saying: "We routinely monitor the activities of a range of individuals and groups and will investigate any evidence of criminal activity." Omar Bakri has also been criticised by the Muslim Council of Britain. "He has been banned from most mosques and that is why he is now using an internet chatroom," said Inayat Bunglawala of the Council. He also added that if the police decided to prosecute Omar Bakri he would get no sympathy from the Muslim community.

MPs are also pressuring the Home Office to take action against him. Andrew Dismore, MP, said that Bakri's rhetoric might have broken laws on incitement. He has written letters to the Home Secretary about the cleric. But latest reports are that Omar Bakri has denied the Times report. But the paper responded by putting an extract of his speech on timesonline.

MIM: Here Bakri claims his words were just 'part of a discussion'. and Jihad could mean 'to look for a good job'. Anyone who has followed Bakri over the past years will know that the 'good job' he is appears to be innocuously referring to most likely means going 'to work' for Al Qaeda.

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(UK)
Cleric Denies Urging Muslims to Take Up Arms

By Laura Elston, PA

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4024023

Radical cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed today denied that he called for young British Muslims to take up arms and join the terror group al Qaida.

Syrian-born Bakri reportedly used an internet sermon to address his followers, claiming that Britain must become a Dar ul-Harb or "land of war".

Asked if he was urging people to join Osama bin Laden's terror network, he told GMTV: "That's not true. Definitely I have very strong beliefs and maybe some controversial views."

He said he was giving examples of groups "not necessarily a call inciting people to take any actions".

Bakri added: "It's part of a discussion."

Police are examining his webcast remarks, in which he told listeners they were "obliged" to join the Mujahidin and allegedly pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden.

Referring to his use of the word al-jihad or "holy war", he said: "The word jihad always for you it means fighting and military fighting. Jihad is.. also to look for a good job, to look for a better wife , to study, even to fight.

"And the word weapon...ask any Muslims...it doesn't mean always fighting."

Bakri, a father of seven, moved to the UK in 1985 after being deported from Saudi Arabia because of his membership of a banned group.

The Home Office has since given him leave to remain in the UK for five years but is reviewing his status.

Last year he sparked outrage by suggesting that an attack on a British school, as happened in Beslan, Russia, would be justified as long as women and children were not deliberately killed and only died in crossfire.

He once praised the 9/11 hijackers as the "magnificent 19".



Latest News:

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm

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