UK Islamic hate preacher Choudary to be given Channel 4 slot

London, Nov.28 (ANI): A radical Muslim, who led the banned group al-Muhajiroun, is to be handed his own program on Britain's Channel 4 amid claims that Islamists have been allowed to monopolise the broadcaster's coverage.

Anjem Choudary, who was also involved with the banned group Islam4UK which planned a protest march through Wootton Bassett, will have free reign to give his views during an edition of the channel's daily opinion slot, known as 4thought.tv.

Choudary, who has described the 9/11 bombers as 'magnificent martyrs', will be allowed to broadcast his program on December 5.

He is expected to saythat British Muslims are 'persecuted', The Telegraph reports.

Meanwhile, the counter-terrorism think-tank Quilliam has written to Channel 4 CEO David Abraham, to complain about airtime already given to radical Muslims during the series.

It claimed that 4thought.tv had failed to properly identify the ideological allegiances of presenters and that a disproportionate amount of time had been given to extremists.

Talal Rajab, from Quilliam, said: "Given the profoundly negative impact that al-Muhajiroun and Islam4UK have had on the social cohesion of the UK, it is highly inappropriate for a mainstream public broadcaster to be providing such a popular platform for their fanatical views.

He added: "We therefore urge Channel 4 to reconsider airing Anjem Choudary's film, and to aspire to feature a more representative and moderate portrayal of Islam in all future programming."

Choudary told The Sunday Telegraph: "Quilliam are sycophants on the British Government payroll, and it is in their own interest to criticise people like ourselves who are calling for sharia and being normal Muslims.

"It did not surprise me to be invited to take part in the program." (ANI)