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Anjem Choudary jailed for five and a half years for drumming up support for IS

Hate preacher Anjem Choudary has been jailed for five and a half years for drumming up support for so-called Islamic State (IS).

His supporters in the public gallery of the Old Bailey courtroom shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as Choudary was sentenced.

The British-born 49-year-old backed the terrorist group in a series of talks posted on YouTube, and recognised a caliphate - a symbolic Islamic state - had been created under an IS leader after it was announced In June 2014.

Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, 33, was jailed for the same period for inviting support for IS between June 29, 2014 and March 6, 2015.

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Hate preacher Choudary 'encouraged violent terrorism'

Dangerous and calculating: The judge said Choudary had shown no remorse Credit: PA

Hate preacher Anjem Choudary was described as a "calculating" character who had deliberately supported "violent terrorist activity" as he was jailed for supporting so-called Islamic State.

Mr Justice Holroyde said that Choudary and his co-defendant Mohammed Rahman were both dangerous men who had deliberately used their speaking skills to influence impressionable followers as he sentenced them.

At no point did either of you say anything to condemn the violent means by which ISIS claimed to have established a caliphate.

On the contrary, each of you was invariably able to find a way of justifying their most appalling acts.

– Mr Justice Holroyde

He described Rahman as a "hothead" while Choudary was more "calculating" and the more experienced.

"You are both mature men and intelligent men who knew throughout exactly what you were doing. You are both fluent and persuasive speakers," he added.

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Anjem Choudary jailed for five and a half years for drumming up support for IS

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