Laughter in court as radical preacher compared to Prince Philip
A Muslim extremist sparked laughter in court today (Tues) after comparing a radical preacher to Prince Philip.
Rajib Khan, 38, claimed that controversial Islamist Omar Brooks – who called upon his followers to fund a war against British and American forces in Iraq – was merely ‘un-PC’.
He told jurors at the Old Bailey: ‘He has his own style of speaking , he’s a good orator – I was looking forward to it, I’ve heard him speak before.
‘He’s a bit like Ken Livingstone or Prince Philip in that sometimes he says things that, unless you know him, can be seen as offensive.’
Judge Michael Topolski QC was so surprised he paused Khan’s evidence, saying: ‘Comparing Omar Brooks to Prince Philip is something I’m going to have to digest.’
Khan replied: ‘He’s just a bit of an eccentric, you just don’t know what’s going to come out of his mouth next.’
Brooks is currently serving a two year prison sentence for breaching a travel ban by leaving the country in the back of a lorry, the court heard.
Khan, who is accused of preaching support for Islamic State, said he had asked Brooks to speak at one of his meetings in Luton.
In the end, Brooks failed to attend the meeting and Khan ended up giving a speech himself on 11 July last year.
Khan, together with Yousaf Bashir, 35, Mohammed Choudry, 22, and two men aged 36 and 38 who cannot be named, are said to be members of the Luton chapter of banned terror organisation Al-Muhajiroun.
The group allegedly held a series of meetings at St Margaret’s Church in Luton and a garden marquee, including one held on the anniversary of the 7/7 bombings last year.
In the marquee they hung a black banner, with words picked out in white reading ‘Khalifa 2014, dawn of a new era’ – believed to refer to the date IS announced their caliphate.
The speeches were recorded by an undercover officer, who managed to infiltrate the group and befriend the five defendants over a 20 month period.
Khan was born in Bangladesh but came to the UK in 1983 and now has a British passport.
He has one previous conviction for affray in November 1995 at Luton and Bedfordshire Juvenile Court, receiving a sentence of 60 hours community service.
Khan later worked as a cash machine data analyst, an MOT inspector and a CCTV installer.
He has previously admitted being a student of Al Muhajiroun leader Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed from 1999 but claimed he had never been a member of the group or a supporter of ISIS.
Rajib Khan, of Vestry Close, Luton, denies one count of encouraging people to support Islamic State at the meeting on 29 June 2015 and of arranging the meeting on July 11at his co-defendants home in Luton.
Bashir, of (11) Dellcot Close, Luton, denies one count of encouraging people to support Islamic State at the meeting at St Margaret’s Church in Luton on June 29.
Choudry, a father of one, of Laggan Road, Maidenhead, Berks, denies one count of encouraging support for a proscribed organisation at meetings on 29 June.
The fourth defendant, of Luton, denies four counts of encouraging support for IS at meetings on June 29, July 7, July 11 and July 15 2015.
The fifth defendant denies three counts of arranging meetings on 7, 11 and 15 July 2015 at his home address in Luton.
The trial continues.
ends
