22-Jul-06: The path of a jihadist

Backgrounder on Bakri (Christian Action for Israel)
(Filed October 2001)
On October 13, 2000, outside London's main mosque several hundred demonstrating Muslims shouted "Kill the Jews," as leaders standing on a platform burned American and Israeli flags. This demonstration was led by Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, who issued a written statement that designated the American "army, embassies, bases and planes" legitimate targets for Muslims worldwide. It is one step from that written incitement to the chants of the mob of his followers: "Down, down USA, USA, you will pay, Osama is on his way." The mob was warning the world of its support for Osama Bin Laden. "Bomb, bomb Tel Aviv, bomb, bomb the White House, bomb, bomb Downing Street." That incident took place eleven months before the attacks on America on September 11, 2001. Who paid attention? British policemen on the scene took no action, except to try to prevent the blockading of a road in front of the mosque, ignoring the frenzied incitement. The following Monday morning, October 16, three days after the riot outside the mosque, an orthodox Jewish student, 20-year old David Meyers, was stabbed more than 20 times with a six-inch blade while traveling in a bus in London. He was wearing a kippah and reading from a book of Psalms when he was stabbed; an Arab man was arrested and charged with attempted murder. Muslim leaders like Syrian born Bakri Mohammed, the leader of al-Muhajiroun which has been reported to have ties to Bin Laden, and seeks to create a "world Islamic state," inflame the darkest recesses of the irrational element of people who have been nurtured on hatred and racism from a very early age. It is only another step or two for some who fervently believe they will be honored shaheeds (martyrs) when they commit suicidal acts against infidels, and that they will be rewarded with the bounty of paradise including 70 virgins upon their arrival. Irrational? Exactly! And this is the primary reason that no amount of appeasement on the basis of rational principles will prevail against terrorism.

Cleric supports targeting children
Telegraph (UK) - Rajeev Syal
(Filed: 5th September, 2004)
An extremist Islamic cleric based in Britain said yesterday that he would support hostage-taking at British schools if carried out by terrorists with a just cause. Omar Bakri Mohammed, the spiritual leader of the extremist sect al-Muhajiroun, said that holding women and children hostage would be a reasonable course of action for a Muslim who has suffered under British rule... Mr Mohammed, 44, who lives in Edmonton, north London, but is originally from Syria, also claimed that the Chechen rebels were not responsible for the deaths of more than 350 people - at least half of them children - who are so far known to have died in Beslan... The father of seven came to Britain in 1985 after being deported from Saudi Arabia because of his membership of a banned group. He has since been given leave by the Home Office to remain in Britain for five years but the Government is reviewing his status.

Islamist cleric declared war on Britain six months ago
The Times (UK) - Sean O'Neill
(Filed 12th July, 2005)
The London bombings occurred exactly six months after an extremist cleric based in the capital declared that Islam was at war with Britain. Investigators are examining their limited records on the followers of Omar Bakri Mohammed to determine if any have been recently recruited into an active terror cell. In 2003 two of Mr Bakri Mohammed's students, Asif Hanif and Omar Sharif, left home in Britain and took part in a Hamas suicide mission in Israel... Tracking Mr Bakri Mohammed's followers has become particularly difficult since last year when he disbanded his al-Muhajiroun group and began to preach clandestinely via internet chatrooms. In talks monitored by The Times in January, Mr Bakri Mohammed declared a shift in the view of Britain held by radical Islamists. He said: "Al-Qaeda and all its branches of the world, that is the victorious group and they have the emir. You are obliged to join."

Bakri banned from Britain as he loses his refugee statusTelegraph (UK) - Andrew Sparrow
(Filed: 13th August, 2005)
Omar Bakri Mohammed was banned from Britain yesterday as the Government intensified its action against Muslim extremists. Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, used existing powers to take away the radical preacher's refugee status on the grounds that his presence in Britain was "not conducive to the public good"... "It's a democracy, not a dictatorship," the Deputy Prime Minister said... The Home Office refused to say why Bakri, who came to Britain seeking asylum 20 years ago, was being banned now when for years his controversial activities were tolerated by the authorities... Yesterday his spokesman, Anjem Choudray, said: "I think it is completely outrageous that the Government can just exclude someone on the basis that they disagree with his views. He has never been charged with a criminal offence in this country. He has been living here for 20 years - he has a wife, children and grandchildren here."

Extremist Islamist has returned - via internet
The Times (UK) - Sean O'Neill and Yaakov Lappin
(Filed 21st October, 2005)
The exiled radical Islamist cleric Omar Bakri Mohammad is continuing to reach his followers in Britain through websites and internet chatrooms. After a period of silence that came after Bakri Mohammad's decision to leave Britain for Lebanon to avoid the threat of arrest and deportation, his followers have re-emerged online. They have been detected using a chatroom labelled "Muslims in the UK" to deliver lectures that deliberately challenge proposals in the Terrorism Bill to outlaw the glorification of terrorist acts. The nature of the material suggests that Bakri Mohammad's movement is prepared to be more explicit in its preachings and teachings.

Radical Cleric Omar Bakri asks Muslims to leave Europe
Asharq al Awsat - Mohammed Al Shafey
(Filed 26th September 2005)
London, Asharq Al-Awsat-- Omar Bakri Mohammed, the radical Muslim cleric, called on his followers in the al Ghurabaa movement and al Muhajiroun, which disbanded itself in October 2004, to join him in the Lebanese capital... The cleric who had sensationally called the September 11, 2001 hijackers the "Magnificent 19", urged his fellow Islamists to leave British soil if they are to continue spreading their beliefs, "in the name of God". Omar Bakri revealed a number of new converts to Islam, who hailed from Britain, Ireland, and other European countries, intended on traveling to Beirut and enroll on three-month Arabic course. Despite being forbidden from returning to the United Kingdom, the radical cleric denied abandoning his students in London. He expressed his sorrow at having to be separated from his Muslim followers and indicated that in 20 years spent preaching, he had educated hundred of students. Omar Barki ruled out returning to Britain even if circumstances changed. "Even if I was given large sums of money and a British passport, I will not be retuning to land of infidels", he told Asharq al Awsat... He described his new life in Beirut as good and stable and said religious leaders he had visited had welcomed him warmly. "Life is good here, praise be to Gd. I am treated differently here", he added. Omar Bakri, who had predicted the London bombings, said, "The people of Lebanon respected preachers and students of religion and revered their opinions and showed them respect, unlike in Britain." Calling for "all Muslims to leave Europe", he predicted, "the Islamic flag will be raised over Downing Street", the Prime Minister's residence in London.

Bakri 'begged to be evacuated from Lebanon'
Telegraph (UK) -
(Filed: 21/07/2006)
Omar Bakri Mohammed, the controversial Islamic preacher banned from returning to Britain, has begged the Royal Navy to rescue him from Beirut. The Muslim cleric, who left Britain for Lebanon in August last year, has already tried and failed to board a British ship heading out of the region. He also wrote to the British embassy to plead for special treatment on "humanitarian grounds"... He insists that despite being in a neighbourhood targetted by Israeli bombers, he's not concerned about his personal safety. His wife today urged the Government to take pity on her husband, saying that their six children- the youngest aged seven - miss their father.