Anjem Choudary claims 'Kevin Keegan effect' in trial

ISLAMIST preacher Anjem Choudary has claimed that the "Kevin Keegan effect" is responsible for people still associating him with a banned group, a court has heard.

Choudary, 57, is facing charges of directing the group Al Muhajiroun (ALM), which he said was disbanded in 2004, being a long-time member, and encouraging support for it online.

He compared his situation to people still thinking of Kevin Keegan as a Liverpool footballer.

"If you ask about Kevin Keegan, people say ‘he plays football for Liverpool'. People look at me and think Al Muhajiroun," he was quoted as saying.

Choudary is on trial with Khaled Hussein, 29, from Canada, who is accused of being part of a banned group. Both deny the charges.

Choudary of Ilford, east London, testified for the first time at his Woolwich Crown Court trial. He claimed to be one of the original three members of ALM, founded in 1996 after his mentor Omar Bakri Mohammed left Hizb-ut-Tahrir.

Choudary said ALM was dissolved in 2004 to avoid confusion as it became more salafist, a purist branch of Islam that relies almost entirely on the teachings of the companions of the Prophet who had known Prophet Mohammed.

Choudary's barrister, Paul Hynes KC, asked if ALM was replaced by another organisation. Choudary denied this, attributing persistent associations with ALM to the "Kevin Keegan effect," where people still view him as part of the group despite its dissolution.

The prosecution argued that ALM continued under different names and that Choudary acted as its leader until July 2023, making speeches to an American offshoot, the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS).

Choudary dismissed this claim, saying ITS was formed in 2003 due to ideological differences with ALM and had criticised ALM online.

Choudary also addressed his 2014 tweet praising the leader of Daesh (the Islamic State group), explaining he believed a legitimate caliphate had been established. Previously jailed in 2016 for encouraging support for daesh, he said he continued promoting Islam after his release.

The trial at Woolwich Crown Court is ongoing.