Anjem Choudary on speed-dial...

[max_tranmere]

Did anyone see 'My Brother the Terrorist' on BBC3 last night (Monday)? Very interesting. A film-maker discusses how his brother grew a beard, donned the robes and sandals, and joined that band of radicals led by Anjem Choudary. He and his brother are both middle-class white guys from Weymouth and his brother is now doing 6 years in prison on terrorism charges.

One thing in the programme which made me laugh was an interview the film-maker did with someone at the East London Mosque. This guy said that if the press ever want a 'nutty quote' they call up Anjem Choudray and he tells them 'exactly what they want to hear' so they can turn it into a headline in their newspaper. He said he's spoken to journalists and many have 'Anjem Choudary on speed-dial'. This is how headlines like the one in The Sun newspaper saying muslims should not work and should instead claim Jobseekers Allowance, or as The Sun said on their front page, should "Claim Jihad Seekers Allowance" come about.

It was comforting to see this man at the East London Mosque distance himself from Choudary and his gang of dipsticks and to describe things Choudary says as 'nutty'. Bizarrely, and I never thought I'd find myself saying this, but Anjem Choudary came over in the interview on the programme which the film-maker did with him, as a fun friendly person. He even challenged the film-maker to an arm wrestle. I don't support his vile views though, just like any decent thinking person wouldn't, and if I had my way he would be locked up in the Tower of London for treason.

Did anyone else see this programme last night and what did you think? My impression of the people who follow Anjem Choudary is that they are disaffected lost individuals who feel some sense of identity and belonging when they join his group. There are hardly any of them though, he has about 30 followers it would seem, and some of them are in jail.

[Essex Lad]

He certainly attracts some rum coves

[cockneygeezer2009]

"One thing in the programme which made me laugh was an interview the film-maker did with someone at the East London Mosque. This guy said that if the press ever want a 'nutty quote' they call up Anjem Choudray"

More like the press make up any quotes. He can hardly sue them.

[max_tranmere]

When that hook-handed guy was arrested, jailed, then sent to face trial in America, the media had to find a new bogey-man. It became that guy with the huge beard, who lived in west London and was under house arrest. He then left the country and went to (was it?) Algeria to be tried for bad activities. So now the media are gunning for Anjem Choudary. The hook-handed geezer was described by certain setions of the media - after other sections of the media had relentlessly slated him - as "the most hated and most vilified man in Britain". Now they are going after Choudary. He is seen more as a bafoon than a danger, the other two were alleged to have been involved in bad things abroad. This tool Choudary I don't think is alleged to have been involved directly in anything bad, he just says controversial and offensive things. He is currently the tabloids' punch-bag. They need to have one.

[max_tranmere]

I suppose some of it is true, some will be made up. Choudary doesn't seem to mind appearing on the front pages in a bad light because if he did he wouldn't speak to the journalists when they contact him - he would know very well that they will put the most controversial bit of his rant as the headline on their front page for millions of people to see nationwide. It would appear he wants to be seen in the way he is, and wants to wind people up, otherwise he'd hang up the phone when the journalists contact him.

[Essex Lad]

Omar Bakri and he went to Lebanon not Algeria. He didn't go there to be tried although he is now on the run from Lebanese authorities.

[cockneygeezer2009]

I really have no idea whether Choudary ever speaks to tabloid journalists. It's the tabloid papers who want to wind people up by making a lot of shuff up. Silly Muslims behaving badly don't help though.

[max_tranmere]

Silly Muslims behaving badly is what the tabloids like. They love these sorts of stories. It also means their mail bag is regularly full. Doris from Clacton and Keith from Bournemouth will write in slating muslims and saying "if they don't like our ways then leave!" and the letters page is always full. The heavier the content of the wording and the more chance you have of winning The Sun's "?50 Letter" prize which they regularly run! lol.