During a recent interview on the Russia Today program Worlds Apart, London-based imam Anjem Choudary cited the Koran in acknowledging that terrorism is part of the Islamic faith.
Choudary was asked by host Oksana Boyko in regard to the beheading to two American journalists whether Islamists can “hold an individual responsible, for the actions of a collective.”
“You said just recently on CNN that the decapitation of journalist James Foley was, in fact, an attempt by the Islamic State to terrorize their enemy, which in this case is the United States,” she stated. “I wonder whether something like that could be justified under the Sharia law. Can you really hold an individual responsible for the actions of a collective? Is that legal in Islam?”
“Well, as you know, as a lecturer in Sharia law, I would say to the people in Russia, the Muslims and the non-Muslims, that every action for a Muslim must be based upon the Qur’an, the word of Allah, and the teachings of the messenger Mohammed … who is the final messenger for mankind,” he replied.
Choudary then pointed to text from the Koran to note that terrorism is a part of the Islamic religion.
“I would first invite the people to think about and embrace Islam, but those who are already Muslim must know that Allah mentions in the Koran—in fact if you look in chapter 8 verse 60, he said, ‘Prepare as much as you can steeds of war to terrorize the enemy,'” he explained. “So terrorizing the enemy is in fact part of Islam. I mean, this is something that we must embrace and understand as far as jurisprudence of Islam is concerned.”
Choudary, also an attorney who lectures on Sharia law, additionally noted that Muslims do not differentiate between civilians and military troops in their attacks because it is the people who elect their leaders.
“Those very civilians are those who put the people in charge, and those people in charge like Obama and others are sending their troops to Muslim countries,” he said, “let alone people like journalists who are considered to be the right hand of the propaganda machine of the Obama administration.”
Choudary is the former leader of the Islamic group Al-Muhajiroun, which was banned in the United Kingdom. Two of his former members are believed to have been involved in the beheading of a British solider last year, which shocked many as it occurred in broad daylight on a public street in London. Choudary is also a supporter of the September 11th attacks on America, as he has reportedly characterized those behind the attacks as “magnificent martyrs.”
The British imam has appeared on a number of television talk shows in America and abroad, including CNN’s Reliable Sources with Brian Stelter.
“Quite frankly, I think it’s completely pathetic and absurd for you to ask a Muslim to condemn a killing of one individual when hundreds of thousands of Muslims are being slaughtered, of which you don’t know that name,” he said.
During an interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity last month, Choudary also admitted the that goal of Islam is to eventually establish a global Islamic state.
“You don’t have a choice,” he said. “It’s coming to you in America.”