Al Ghurabaa

Al Ghurabaa' (Arabic: الغرباء; English: The Strangers) is a banned Muslim organization that operated in the United Kingdom. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5188136.stm Groups banned by new terror law] BBC News] Al Ghurabaa, along with the The Saviour Sect, is widely believed to be the reformed Al-Muhajiroun after it disbanded in 2004 by order of Omar Bakri Muhammad. Other members include Abu Izzadeen and Abu Uzair.

On July 17 2006 the group was banned under new legislation in Britain outlawing organizations that support terrorism. Home Secretary, Dr. John Reid laid an order in Parliament which will make it a criminal offence for a person to belong to or encourage support for the group, to arrange meetings in its support, or to wear clothes or carry articles in public indicating support or membership. [cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1822724,00.html|title=http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1822724,00.html|accessdate=|format=|work=]

The name of the group is derived from a hadith (or tradition) ascribed to Muhammad, "Islam began as something strange and will end as something strange... paradise is for Al Ghurabaa' (the strangers)."

Anjem Choudary who used to be a leader of Al-Muhajiroun is a spokesman or prominent figure in al Ghurabaa'. [cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/16/ncart16.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/03/16/ixhome.html|title=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/16/ncart16.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/03/16/ixhome.html|accessdate=|format=|work=] [cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006120304,00.html|title=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006120304,00.html|accessdate=|format=|work=] [citeweb|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1703181,00.html?gusrc=rss|title=http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1703181,00.html?gusrc=rss|accessdate=|format=|work=]

tatement about terrorism

"Al Ghurabaa do not glorify any acts of terrorism, whether committed by individuals, organisations or nation states such as USA or UK, we do not wish anybody to emulate them or praise them and make expressly clear that that is not the intention of any of our articles or comments of our representatives. If anyone was to mistakenly get this impression then that is not our intention and we will do everything we can to clarify the misunderstanding."cite web|title=(Website no longer active)|url=http://www.alghurabaa.co.uk/about.html|publisher=Al Ghurabaa]

This statement is at odds with the views of leading member Abu Izzadeen who was filmed on the eve of the first anniversary of the 7/7 terrorist attacks on the city of London mocking the victims of 9/11 and threatening further attacks on non Muslims.

Al Ghurabaa was banned by Waltham Forest council from holding clandestine meetings at premises within walking distance of the homes of several suspects the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot suspectscite news|date=2006-08-16|author=Paul Lewis|title=Banned group tried to rent hall near suspects' homes|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,1851116,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1|format=HTML|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=2006-09-02]

Al Ghurabaa members linked to the London bombings can be seen on video [cite web|url=http://glen-jenvey.com/new/video2.html|title=http://glen-jenvey.com/new/video2.html|accessdate=|format=|work=] and their leader Omar Bakri can been seen in another video [cite web|url=http://glen-jenvey.com/video.html|title=http://glen-jenvey.com/video.html|accessdate=|format=|work=] talking about the coming attacks on London 1 month before the bombings.

Abu Izzadeen, a Muslim convert also known as Omar Brookes, was ejected from a meeting in East London at which the Home Secretary Dr John Reid was speaking. Izzadeen had told Reid, "How dare you come here to a Muslim area." Several Muslims in the audience urged him to stop heckling but he continued before being ejected by the Police, only to continue outside. [cite news|date=2006-09-20|title=Reid heckled during Muslim speech|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5362052.stm|format=HTML|publisher=BBC News|accessdate = 2006-09-20]

Death threats

In response to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, Al Ghurabaa' published an article on their website titled, "Kill those who insult the Prophet Muhammad". The article states, "The insulting of the Messenger Muhammad (saw) is something that the Muslims cannot and will not tolerate and the punishment in Islam for the one who does so is death. This is the sunnah of the prophet and the verdict of Islam upon such people, one that any Muslim is able [to] execute."cite web|title=(Website no longer active)|url=http://www.alghurabaa.co.uk/articles/cartoon.htm]

Al Ghurabaa' had organised the 3 February protest march from London Central Mosque to the Danish Embassycite web|date=2006-02-04|title=Reaction around the world to cartoon row|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4676930.stm|format=HTML|publisher=BBC News] where protesters waved placards reading, "Butcher those who mock Islam", "Kill those who insult Islam", "Europe you will pay, your 9/11 is on the way", or "7/7 is on its way", "Europe you will pay, bin Laden is on his way" and "Europe you'll come crawling, when the Mujahideen come roaring". Despite the similar theme on Al Ghurabaa's website, their spokesman, Anjem Choudary, said he did not know who wrote the placards.cite news|date=2006-02-06|author=Owen Bowcott|title=Arrest extremist marchers, police told|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1703181,00.html?gusrc=rss|format=HTML|publisher="The Guardian"] MPs from all parties condemned the protest, calling the Metropolitan police to pursue those responsible on the grounds that the threats were an incitement to murder.cite web|date=2006-02-05|title=Cartoon protest slogans condemned|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4682262.stm|format=HTML|publisher=BBC News]

New organization

In November 2005 Al Ghurabaa and The Saved Sect were re-established under the name Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah. [cite web|date=2006-10-29|title=New group replaces al-Muhajiroun|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4449714.stm|format=HTML|publisher=BBC News] This organization operates mainly through an invitation-only Internet forum, of which Anjem Choudary is a prominent contributor, using the username "Abou Luqman". A reporter visiting the site found recordings of Osama Bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and Omar Bakri Mohammed, as well as calls for holy war. [cite web|date=2006-10-29|title=Banned extremists regroup|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2426770,00.html|format= HTML|publisher=The Sunday Times]

References

ee also

*The Saviour Sect
*Al Muhajiroun
*Hizb ut-Tahrir in the United Kingdom
*Islamism
*Islam in the United Kingdom
*UK Islamist demonstration outside Danish Embassy

Related Media Articles

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4133150.stm Treason threat cleric 'leaves UK']
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_4740000/newsid_4742600/4742625.stm Why radical views 'must be heard']
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4130454.stm Terror treason charge considered]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4129502.stm Radicals warned of treason risk]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4703541.stm Profile: Omar Bakri Muhammad]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3110115.stm BBC - 'Police raid Islamic group']
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/3670007.stm BBC Newsnight's Richard Watson interviews Al-Muhajiroun recruits]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22989-1733144,00.html The Times (London) - 'Preacher of hate' is banned from Britain]
* [http://www.jamestown.org/news_details.php?news_id=38 10 March 2004, Mahan Abedin of Jamestown.org interviews Omar Bakri Mohammed at his London home]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/05/02/wbomb202.xml Telegraph - Al Muhajiroun under scrutiny]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2001%2F10%2F31%2Fnmus231.xml Telegraph - Militants of Al-Muhajiroun seek world Islamic state]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/3014703.stm BBC HARDtalk interview, 5 May 2003, Anjem Choudary refuses to condemn suicide attacks.]
* [http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20050110-082616-6312r.htm Washington Times - British Muslims called to take up jihad]
* [http://www.alghurabaa.co.uk/articles/cartoon.htm Al Ghurabaa - Kill those who insult the Prophet Muhammad]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4676930.stm BBC - Reaction around the world to cartoon row]
* [http://www.alghurabaa.co.uk/pr/danishdemo.htm Al Ghurabaa - Defend the honour of Muhammad]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1703181,00.html?gusrc=rss Guardian - Arrest extremist marchers, police told]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4682262.stm BBC - Cartoon protest slogans condemned]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,739813,00.html Militant groups in the UK] "The Guardian", June 19, 2002
* [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006070794,00.html Protester dumps family] The Sun
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,1826510,00.html Banned Islamists spawn front organisations] , "Guardian" July 22, 2006

Video

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4700976.stm Anjem Choudary interviewed by Jeremy Paxman] Newsnight, BBC
*Abu Izzadeen addressing an Islamic conference in Birmingham UK. Mocking victims of 7/7, 9/11 and 9/3 (the Spanish train bombings)