Royal family has 'dark history of occupying Muslim lands’ says Anjem Choudary after revelations in Harry’s memoir
“This statement by Choudary is abhorrent, and puts lives at risk. I condemn it,” Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, was quoted as saying.
Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
British extremist Anjem Choudary has called Prince Harry a ‘Muslim killer’ after his revelations in memoir and said that the Royal family has a 'dark history of occupying Muslim lands, the MailOnline reported.
In his highly personal book 'Spare', Harry said that he had killed 25 people in Afghanistan when serving as a military helicopter pilot in Afghanistan.
Choudary, 55, who inspired the murderers of soldier Lee Rigby, said that the Duke of Sussex has shown ‘his true colours’ and he urged his followers to target British troops across the world.
"The latest revelations from Harry that he murdered 25 Muslims in Afghanistan followed by his comment that he has no remorse and that he just saw these human beings as “chess pieces” tells us everything we need to know about the Royal Family and their thinking about Islam and Muslims," the MailOnline report, quoting Choudary's online response to Harry's comments, said.
"In reality, the British Royal Family has a long and dark history of supporting the occupation of Muslim lands, the usurpation of its resources and the oppression of Muslims."
He added: "The world now knows of the wickedness that the US, UK and others engaged in, including repeatedly murdering innocent unarmed Muslims… Nevertheless, Harry still saw fit to plunge his knife further into the hearts of Muslims with his callous boastful comments.
The hate preacher concluded his statement by urging Muslims to target British troops in Syria, Iraq and North Africa.
Earlier, the Taliban administration has also criticised Prince Harry's comments.
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Taliban-led Afghan foreign affairs ministry, said: "The western occupation of Afghanistan is truly an odious moment in human history and comments by Prince Harry is a microcosm of the trauma experienced by Afghans at the hands of occupation forces who murdered innocents without any accountability."
Meanwhile, prominent politicians in UK condemned Choudary's comments and warned of a raised threat to the Royal Family and Armed Forces.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan-Smith has urged the police and security services to act as Choudary should no longer 'be free to act accordingly in the UK'.
"Whatever your views on Harry’s comments, the real danger is right there with this hate preacher, trying to whip people up to violent actions. These people have no place in a peaceful democracy," he told the MailOnline.
"This statement by Choudary is abhorrent, and puts lives at risk. I condemn it. He has to understand that British troops are out there to serve our interests, and so he should not be calling for their heads," Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, was quoted as saying by the MailOnline.
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, urged Prince Harry to clarify his earlier remarks to stop others from issuing extremist rants like Choudary.
Choudary was an active member of the hardline Islamic group Al-Muhajiroun. He became its leader in 2005 and remained in the post until it was banned in 2010.
Two of his followers beheaded British soldier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich barracks in South-East London in May 2013.
Many of his followers ended up fighting for the Daesh in Syria, including his bodyguard, Mohammed Reza Haque, nicknamed Jihadi Giant.
Choudary received a five-and-a-half-year sentence in 2016 for openly endorsing the Daesh. After serving less than half of the sentence, he was released in 2018.
The Ilford-resident was subject to strict licence restrictions, but he is now permitted to preach. The Treasury has blocked his assets, and the UN has classified him as a global terrorist, preventing him from leaving the country.
UK music industry continue to face systemic barriers that hinder progress, visibility, and career growth – despite decades of contribution and cultural influence, a new report has revealed.
The study, South Asian Soundcheck, published last Tuesday (7), surveyed 349 artists and professionals and found that while many are skilled and ambitious, structural obstacles are still holding them back.
Prepared by Lila, a charity focused on empowering south Asian artists and music professionals, the survey showed that nearly three-quarters of respondents earn some income from music, but only 28 per cent rely on it full time.
More than half struggle to access opportunities or funding, and many said they lack industry networks or knowledge about contracts and rights.
Beyond structural issues, almost half said they face stereotypes about the kind of music they should make; two in five encounter family doubts about music as a career, and one in three has experienced racial discrimination.
Although 69 per cent said there was progress in visibility, but 68 per cent still feel invisible within the industry.
Respondents sought urgent action, including mentorship and networking opportunities, stronger south Asian representation in key industry roles and fairer access to funding.
Veteran musician and composer Viram Jasani, who chaired the Asian Music Circuit and led a national enquiry into south Asian music in 1985, told Eastern Eye the findings were “disheartening”.
“I read the report and my heart sank – it feels as though nothing has changed,” he said.
“Back in 1985, we had already identified the same problems and made clear recommendations for better representation, employment and long-term support. Four decades later, we are still talking about the same issues.”
Jasani, a sitar, tabla and tambura expert, said the report focused mainly on modern genres and overlooked traditional south Asian music, which he believes is central to cultural identity.
“Since colonial times, British attitudes have not changed much,” he said. “If they can erase Indian traditional culture and create a community that lives entirely within an English cultural bubble, then they will have succeeded.”
He added that young south Asian artists were often drawn to Western contemporary music, while neglecting their own heritage.
“We are brilliant in Western genres, but that should come after we are grounded in our traditional shashtriya sangeet (classical music),” he said. “Without that foundation, we lose our sense of identity.”
Jasani also warned a lack of unity within the south Asian community continues to weaken its cultural progress.
He said, “People compete with each other while the world watches. For too long, massaging egos has taken priority over producing the best of our culture.”
According to the survey, one in three has experienced direct racial discrimination. One respondent said, “There are virtually no visible and successful south Asian artists in the mainstream – people simply do not know where to place us.”
Another added: “I want south Asian artists to be part of the collective mainstream industry, not just put on south Asian-specific stages or events.”
While the visibility of south Asian artists has improved, with more names appearing on festival line-ups and in the media, the study revealed this progress remains “surface level”.
Lila’s founder, Vikram Gudi, said the findings show progress has not yet been translated into structural inclusion.
“The data exposes what we call the progress paradox. Seventy-three per cent of the people we surveyed earn some money from music, but only 27 per cent earn enough to rely on it as a sustainable career,” he said.
“The Soundcheck gives us the evidence to enact real change and identifies three essential needs – mentorship, representation, and investment.”
Three-quarters of participants said mentorship from experienced professionals would make the biggest difference to their careers. Many stressed the importance of being guided by people who “understand how the industry works and can connect them to decision-makers”.
Nearly the same proportion called for greater south Asian representation across the music industry – not just on stage, but within executive, programming and production roles at festivals, venues, record labels and streaming services.
Dedicated funding also emerged as a priority, with many describing the current grant systems as inaccessible or ill-suited to the diverse and cross-genre work that defines south Asian creativity today.
Two in five respondents reported that family or community resistance remains a challenge, often due to the perceived instability of a music career. The report argued this scepticism is “economically logical”, when there are so few visible south Asian success stories in the mainstream.
Responding to the report, Indy Vidyalankara, member of the UK Music Diversity Taskforce and BPI Equity & Justice Advisory Group, said: “South Asian music is rich, vibrant, and hugely influential. We need south Asian representation at every level of the ecosystem, plus support and investment to match that influence.”
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