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Omar Bakri Muhammad (Arabic: عمر بکری محمد; born 1958 in Syria) is a Muslim cleric, activist and publisher who until 2005 was known as a notorious figure within the British radical Islamist movement. British newspapers have called him the "Tottenham Ayatollah." The British media accused him of indoctrinating terrorists and inciting terrorism after the September 11, 2001 attacks. British journalist Jon Ronson's "Them: Adventures With Extremists", a documentary and book, depicts Ronson's interactions with Bakri.

History

Bakri joined the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a young man participating in their revolt in 1982 against the Syrian Ba'ath Party and the government of Hafez al-Assad. When the rebellion was crushed by the authorities Bakri relocated to Beirut, gained Lebanese citizenship and joined the local branch of Hizb ut-Tahrir.

In 1983 Bakri moved to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia where he set up Al-Muhajiroun as one of the front organisations for Hizb ut-Tahrir in Saudi Arabia. Bakri moved to Britain in 1985 and was given indefinite leave to remain under political asylum laws. He founded the Al-Khilafa publishing house in London and served as a judge of Islamic Law in the 'Court of the United Kingdom.' From his home in Edmonton Bakri continued to distribute Islamist literature and organise gatherings in Britain as an informal leader of Al-Muhajiroun.

In 1996 Bakri resigned from Hizb ut-Tahrir after disagreements on policy, style and methods, declaring Al-Muhajiroun an independent organisation. He initially founded the group as a traditional Sunni organisation dedicated to the tenets of Islamic law and supportive of international Islamist causes. The group did not directly associate itself with jihad movements. After September 11, 2001, Bakri praised the attackers as "magnificent" and changed his leanings towards the theology and philosophy of Al Qaeda. Bakri Muhammad then renounced his previous religious views, and declared himself a follower of Salafism. Media outlets and British Muslims criticised him for his open support for various international jihadist organisations.

His main students were Anjem Choudhary, Abdur-Rahman Saleem, Abu Uzair and Abu Izzadeen Umar Brooks.

In 2005 Bakri made a televised appeal to the captors of Norman Kember, a hostage in Iraq. After his speech Bakri said, "I appeal myself to them, you see, that to show guidance and mercy to any victim in their hand. But after that I can't myself guarantee anything except to tell you these people mean business."

In November 2006 the BBC programs File on 4 and Newsnight, in an investigation into the radicalisation of young British Muslims, reported that Bakri is regularly broadcasting hate messages against the UK government and non-Muslims via the internet, using a range of pseudonyms. Speech analysis experts confirmed his voice. The BBC penetrated the broadcasts using undercover investigators from the group Vigil.

During an online question and answer session a Vigil member asked Bakri if Dublin Airport should be a terrorist target because U.S. troops transit there on the way to Iraq. Bakri told the member to "hit the target and hit it very hard. That issue should be understood. Your situation there is quite difficult therefore the answer lies in your question." He also said the 7/7 London bombers were in "paradise."

Dealings with the British Government

In 2004 Bakri disbanded Al-Muhajiroun, saying that "all Muslims should unite together against a hostile West," although increasing pressure from UK authorities is thought to be a leading contributory factor. Bakri said a "pact" between the British government and Muslims had been "violated," blaming this breakdown on the decision to send British forces to join the US-led intervention in Iraq. On August 6 2005 Bakri left the United Kingdom following stories that the UK Government were planning to investigate certain Muslim clerics under little-used treason laws. He was banned from returning by British Home Secretary Charles Clarke stating that Bakri's presence in Britain was "not conducive to the public good." He subsequently took up residence in Lebanon. In July 2006 he tried to leave Lebanon on a Royal Navy vessel evacuating British citizens, but was turned away.

On October 24, 2006, British anti-terror police stopped Omar Bakri's son, Abdul Rahman Fostok, at Heathrow Airport, and seized £13,000 that he intended to deliver to Bakri in Lebanon. The money was held under the Proceeds of Crime Act, pending an investigation, but Fostok was allowed to board his flight. Responding to this, Bakri said, "I am not expecting any problem with the money but if I do not get it there will be trouble. I will take action because it is my property. God says you must do all in your power to get something back if it is taken from you - even if it costs you your life. They will be playing with fire." Bakri claims that the money is a gift, but it has been reported that Bakri told followers on the Paltalk website in June 2006 that if they wanted to send him money for the financing of "mujahideen," they should do so through his son Fostok, who "keeps low profile." He posted Fostok's cell phone number and invited them to call him directly.

Kidnapping plot

On 31 January 2007 British police arrested nine suspected terrorists who were allegedly planning to kidnap, torture, and behead a British Muslim in the army, all of which would be videotaped and later broadcast on the internet. The soldier had served in the War in Afghanistan, but had returned home to Britain on temporary leave. On 4 February secret recordings of Bakri Muhammad emerged in which he calls for the attack. Bakri told listeners, "When you meet , slice their own necks. And when you make the blood spill all over, and the enemy becomes so tired, now start to take from them prisoners. Then free them or exchange them until the war is finished. Verily they remind the sunnah of removing the head of the enemy. They remind the sunnah of slaughtering the enemy. They remind the sunnah of how to strike the neck of the enemy. We saw him in his brother's house. They removed the head of the enemy. Use the sword and remove the head of the enemy."

He previously called for a kidnapping-terrorist attack in 2005. In another incident he said he hoped someone would "capture British Muslims who are in the Army over there."

Quotes by Omar Bakri Muhammad

• (On the deaths of British servicemen in a Nimrod air accident in Afghanistan) "Allah has his own soldiers and I was so happy. I was just thanking Allah."
• (Trying to get back to Britain during the bombing of Lebanon) "What concerns me is my safety. I'd be happy with a month's visa but this morning they told me I couldn't because I'm not a British citizen any more."
• (Asked on internet chat room if it would be correct to bomb Dublin airport) "Hit the target and hit it very hard."
• "I condemn any killing and any bombing against any innocent people in Britain or abroad, but I expect the British people to condemn the killing of Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan"
• "But I think that would be political suicide for the British government if they started to deport and imprison all extremists and radicals, because if, god forbid, something happened again, they would have nobody left to blame."
• "Why I condemn Osama Bin Laden for? I condemn Tony Blair, I condemn George Bush. I would never condemn Osama Bin Laden or any Muslims."
• "We don't make a distinction between civilians and non-civilians, innocents and non-innocents. Only between Muslims and unbelievers. And the life of an unbeliever has no value. It has no sanctity."
• (On Israel) "We are talking about a cancer in the heart of the Muslim world. It must be eradicated and removed"
• "As long as the Iraqi did not deliberately kill women and children, and they were killed in the crossfire, that would be okay."
• "What happened yesterday confirmed that as long as the cause and the root problem is still there ... we will see the same effect we saw on July 7."
• "If the cause is still there the effect will happen again and again,"
• "I would like to see the Islamic flag fly, not only over number 10 Downing Street, but over the whole world,"
• "But Islam is a message of war for those who declare war against Muslims,"
• "Islam prohibits Muslims from allowing themselves to become captives of nonbelievers."
• "They said 'sorry, the only people who will be in the boat are those who have British citizenship and those who've got British passports.'"
• "I know controversy surrounds all the news about me, I am myself accepting my destiny. But I have the right like anybody else to look for safety."
• "Juhaiman al-Utaiba was a great man. He led a serious uprising against the House of al-Saud. In the end the Saudi authorities could not defeat Juhaiman and his men; therefore they brought in the Jordanians and the French."

External links

• Omar Bakri Muhammad: Videos
• "Them": This American Life radio programme featuring journalist Jon Ronson's account of the time he spent with Omar Bakri Muhammad.
• Angry Omar sees the Light. (Rod Liddle - Times Online)
• Treason threat cleric 'leaves UK'
• There can be no end to jihad an interview with Omar Bakri Muhammad (Christianity Today article)
• The Times (London) - 'Preacher of hate' is banned from Britain
• The Sun (London) - Exiled Bakri in SOS plea
• The Sun (London) - 'Bakri gloats over RAF deaths'
• Desperately Seeking Celebrity - Social Affairs Unit article on Omar Bakri and the craving for celebrity.

References

1. BBC news - Covert preaching of banned cleric, 14 November 2006
2. Cleric Bakri 'will return' to UK BBC News
3. Britons escape Lebanon 'trauma' BBC News
4. "Police seize £13,000 from son of exiled Muslim cleric" The Scotsman 26 October 2006
5. "Omar Bakri vows to retrieve confiscated cash" Life Style Extra 25 October 2006
6. "Bakri boy link to web hate fund" The Sun 26 October 2006
7. ^ Ex-UK cleric 'inspired plot to kidnap soldier' The Daily Telegraph
8. Bakri gloats over RAF deaths The Sun
9. Exiled Bakri in SOS plea The Sun
10. Covert preaching of banned cleric BBC News
11. No proof bombers Muslims - Bakri BBC News
12. Attack on London 'inevitable' The Age

• 1958 births
• Living people
• Islamists
• Muslim activists
• Terrorism in the United Kingdom