Omar Bakri Muhammad
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Omar Bakri Muhammad (عمر بکری محمد), born 1958 in Syria) is a Muslim cleric, activist and publisher who until 2005 was known as a leading figure within the British Islamist movement. During his time in Britain, Bakri was described by tabloid newspapers as the “Tottenham Ayatollah” and often portrayed as a figure of ridicule. After 9/11 Bakri was accused in the British media of indoctrination and incitement to terrorism. Bakri was also a featured subject in a documentary and book "Them: Adventures With Extremists" by British journalist Jon Ronson.
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 organizations 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 in the Shari'a, or Islamic Law, 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 Sharia 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-Qaida. Bakri Muhammad then renounced his previous religious views, and declared himself a Salafi, which some Muslims describe as Wahabi. Bakri was vilified by some moderate Muslims and much of the mainstream media for numerous comments and statements supporting various international jihadist organisations.
In 2005 Omar Bakri made a televised appeal to the captors of Western hostage Norman Kember in Iraq. After his speech Bakri stated "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."
Dealings with the British Government
In 2004 Bakri disbanded the group Al-Muhajiroun claiming 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 announced that 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” [link]. He is subsequently residing in Lebanon and is believed to be heading the Al Ghurabaa organisation.
Quotes by Omar Bakri Muhammad
- "The life of an unbeliever has no value, it has no sanctity." [link]
- "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,"
- "I condemn any killing and any bombing against any innocent people in Britain or abroad, but * "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"
See also
- [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]
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