Hate Preacher Anjem Choudary Gets £100,000 from Taxpayers to Fight Terror Charges

The infamous Islamic hate preacher and Islamic State recruiter Anjem Choudary was given almost £100,000 of taxpayers’ money to fight his recent conviction.

Mr. Choudary was found guilty of encouraging support for the banned terrorist group and ‘caliphate’ this August. He has inspired terrorists to commit atrocities in the UK and abroad and his followers have been linked to attacks including the murder of Lee Rigby in Greenwich and the 7/7 bombings in London.

In the past he has praised 9/11 terrorists as “magnificent martyrs”, said he wants to see “sharia dominate the world” and the “flag of sharia” fly over Parliament.

However, he was allowed spend £97,616 of public money in his failed bid to stay out of jail, the Daily Express has revealed. His lawyer’s full bill is yet to be released, so this figure is likely to rise significantly.

It has previously been revealed that the hate preacher has claimed up to £500,000 in benefits over several years, and last year he called on his followers to “take Jihadi Seeker’s Allowance”.

Detailing the substantial legal aid handed to Mr. Choudary, the Ministry of Justice said: “The Legal Aid Agency is yet to receive the final claim for payment in relation to this matter.”

The money paid so far went towards “litigator costs”, they claimed.

Tory MP Philip Hollobone commented: “I share the sense of widespread outrage that this individual should of [sic] been in receipt of such a large amount of taxpayers’ money.

“I would far rather this money is spent on compensation and rehabilitation for victims of terrorist crimes rather than those who seek to spread vile religious hatred.

“It strengthens the case for radical overhaul of British human rights legislation.”

The 2013 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (Laspo) Act substantially cut legal aid, denying assistance to many vulnerable citizens.

The year before the act was introduced, legal aid was granted in 925,000 cases. The year after, assistance was given in just 497,000 cases – a drop of 46 per cent.