Omar Bakri Muhammad

Omar Bakri Muhammad (Arabic: عمر بکری محمد; born Omar Bakri Fostock in 1958 in Syria) led Al-Muhajiroun, an Islamist organisation based in the United Kingdom, until its disbandment in 2004, and is allegedly a spiritual leader for Al Qaeda. Bakri released prepared statements from Osama bin Laden after the 1998 United States embassy bombings.

His main students were Anjem Choudary, Abu Izzadeen, and Abu Uzair.

In 2005, after sheltering in the UK for 20 years, he travelled voluntarily to Lebanon, and while he was away the Home Office informed him that he would not be allowed back. In 2006, during the Israel-Hizballah war, he asked to be evacuated back to Britain, along with the tourists, on "humanitarian grounds". He was refused.

History

Bakri joined the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a young man participating in their revolt in 1972 against the Syrian Ba'ath Party and the government of Hafez al-Assad. He left Syria in 1977 and moved to Beirut, Lebanon.

In 1979 he left Lebanon and moved to Cairo, Egypt where he studied at Al-Azhar University for six months. He left Al-Azhar before he could get a degree due to disagreements with his teachers.

He moved to Mecca, Saudi Arabia in December 1979 and studied at the The Islamic School of al-Saltiyah and established Al-Muhajiroun. The Saudi Arabian government arrested Bakri in 1984 in Jeddah, but released him on bail. The government arrested him again in December 1985 in Riyadh. He moved to Jeddah and formally launched Al-Muhajiroun on March 3, 1983. Bakri moved to the United Kingdom on January 14, 1986.

He was refuted in detail and his scholarship was put to the test by an Islamic researcher from Lebanon, Abdur-Rahman Dimashiqi in a book entitled Hizb ut-Tahreer (Istanbul: Maktabah al-Ghurabaa', 1997). For example in a book authored by Omar Bakri entitled Essential Fiqh (London: The Islamic Book Comapany, 1996) on page 3 there is a biography of Bakri's scholarship and he claims that he studied at the Islamic universities of Umm ul-Qura' and Jamiah Islamiyyah (The islamic University) of Madeenah al-Munawwarah. Yet after investigation Bakri did not provide any certificates or proof that he studied at either of these two universities and no one knows him to have studied there. Currently, on Bakri's website http://www.omarbakri.info/Books/Ahlus%20Sunnah%20Wal%20Jamma.pdf for example, it now says that he studied at a certain "Madrasah Saltiyyah" (?) in Saudi Arabia, and any mention of Umm ul-Qura' and The Islamic University of Madeenah have been totally omitted!!? To date, no clarification of this has been made. Furthermore, during his time in Saudi Arabia Bakri did not study anywhere as at this time he was merely an employee of Eastern Electric owned by Abdul-Aziz as-Suhaybi and ash-Shamsan in Riyadh. Then he went over to the Jeddah branch and then travelled to America to study English for a few months and then suddenly went to London to assume leadership of Hizb ut-Tahreer as their offical "Mufti."

In 1996 Bakri's relationship with Hizb ut-Tahrir ended 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 the September 11, 2001 attacks Bakri praised the attackers as "magnificent", and changed his leanings towards the theology and philosophy of Al Qaeda. Bakri then renounced his previous mainstream Sunni religious beliefs, and became a Salafi Muslim. Media outlets and British Muslims criticised him for his open support for various international jihadist organisations.

Bakri has reaffirmed the fatwa on Salman Rushdie, saying from Lebanon, "Rushdie will continue living his life in hiding. Any fatwa will stand until it is fulfilled. He is always going to be worried about a Muslim reaching him."

2000s

On September 13, 2001 Bakri told the Daily Mail, "When I first heard about [the September 11, 2001 attacks], there was some initial delight about such an attack. I received a phone call and said, 'Oh, wow, the United States has come under attack.' It was exciting."

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.

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."

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."

Alleged ties to terrorism

British newspapers have called him the "Tottenham Ayatollah", while former Conservative MP Rupert Allason described him as a "terrorist who believes in planting bombs and blowing up women and children in Israel." Despite being vilified in the media,

Roland Jacquard, an expert on Islamic terrorism, said that "every al-Qaeda operative recently arrested or identified in Europe had come into contact with Bakri at some time or other."

Internet broadcasts

In January 2005 The Times monitored live, 90-minute internet lectures from Bakri in a chatroom in which he told listeners, "I believe the whole of Britain has become Dar al-Harb (land of war). The kuffar (non-believer) has no sanctity for their own life or property." He said Muslims should join the jihad "wherever you are" and told a woman she was allowed to do a suicide bombing. In another broadcast he said, "Al-Qaeda and all its branches and organizations of the world, that is the victorious group and they have the emir and you are obliged to join. There is no need... to mess about." Two days later, in another broadcast, he said that dead mujaheedin "are calling you and shouting to you from far distant places: al jihad, al jihad. They say to you my dear Muslim brothers, 'Where is your weapon, where is your weapon?' Come on to the jihad."

Andrew Dismore, a Labour MP, said, "With these words he may well be committing offences under the Terrorism Act and other legislation. I will be raising this immediately with the Home Secretary and the Metropolitan Police."

Comments on terrorist attacks

Commenting on the September 11, 2001 attacks, The Times claims he said "I am very happy today. As much as I regret the innocent people who passed away, with the USA you must pay." on his website. The Montreal Gazette however claims that he said in an interview "If Islamists did it—and most likely it is Islamists, because of the nature of what happened—then they have fully misunderstood the teachings of Islam. ... Even the most radical of us have condemned this. I am always considered to be a radical in the Islamic world and even I condemn it." There may not be a contradiction, depending on the interpritations of the statements.

Bakri, discussing the 2004 Madrid train bombings, is alleged by The Times to have said, "What happened in Madrid is all revenge. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life."

Financing of "mujahideen"

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 [a] low profile." He posted Fostok's cell phone number and invited them to call him directly.

Kidnapping plot

Main article: 31 January 2007 Birmingham raid

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 [Westerners], 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." He has said that a Beslan-style attack is alright if children are not deliberately killed.

Them: Adventures With Extremists

Main article: Them: Adventures With Extremists

British journalist Jon Ronson's "Them: Adventures With Extremists", a documentary and book published in 2001, depicts Ronson's interactions with Bakri. Ronson details how Bakri fundraised for Hamas and Hezbollah using novelty Coca-Cola bottles, having been unable to obtain more conventional collection tins from his local store.. He told Bakri, "It seems strange to me that you plan to collect for Hamas and Hizbullah in novelty Coca-Cola bottles." Bakri replied, "I am not against the imperialist baggage, just the corruption of the Western civilization."

Bakri has insisted he is harmless, despite his vilification in the media. In a conversation with Ronson on the evening of his arrest and release without charge in 2001, Bakri told Ronson, "Oh Jon, I need you more than even now. You know I am harmless, don't you? You know I am just a clown. You know I am laughable, don't you? ... Why don't people believe you when you tell them that I am just a harmless clown?"

At one point Bakri told Ronson, "I cannot take a day off, an hour off, even a minute off. I will take time off when I am with Allah, when I die in the battlefield and become a martyr."

Arrest in Lebanon

Future Television interviewed Bakri on August 11, 2005. Bakri said he did not have ties to Al Qaeda, calling it a "media creation" and said he did not intend to return to Britain. Bakri told Future Television, "I left Britain on my own accord though I have not been accused of anything there or in Lebanon... but the London attacks are the reason I have returned." According to Future Television reporter and editor Salman Sarieddine, Lebanese police arrested Bakri "as soon as he left the building after the interview. The General Security was waiting for him outside and took him away in the car. They hadn't seen the interview, and we were not warned beforehand that this could happen." Police later said the arrest was "a routine arrest to determine his reasons for being in Lebanon." Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi Aridi later said Bakri was arrested as a "precautionary measure."

British Ambassador to Lebanon James Watt said, "We made no request for his arrest, nor for his extradition. As far as I am concerned, this is a very simple story — it is a Lebanese citizen who returned to Lebanon and has been arrested by the Lebanese police. We have nothing to do with it and it's not in our place to comment on what has happened."

Quotes

• (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."
• "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."[1]
• "Islam prohibits Muslims from allowing themselves to become captives of nonbelievers."[2]
• "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.'"[3]
• "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."[4]
• "Juhayman al-Otaibi 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.