UK preacher charged for inviting support of IS

Britain's radical preacher Anjem Choudary has been charged with inviting support for the Islamic State (IS), also known as ISIL, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced Wednesday.

Choudary, 48, is a British Muslim social and political activist. He used to be the spokesman for the Islamist group Islam4UK until it was proscribed in 2010. He was also a vocal critic of Britain's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The CPS said it has authorized charges against Choudary and another man, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, under section 12 of Britain's Terrorism Act 2000.

"We have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to prosecute Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman for inviting support for ISIL, a proscribed terrorist organization," said Sue Hemming, head of special crime and counter terrorism at the CPS.

"It is alleged that Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman invited support for IS in individual lectures which were subsequently published online," Hemming said, adding that the offenses took place between June 29, 2014 and March 6 this year.

She noted that criminal proceedings have commenced and both men have a right to "a fair trial."

"It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings," the prosecutor warned.

Choudary and Rahman will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Wednesday. Endit