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Britain First And Anjem Choudary Have Some Startling Similarities

5 Awkward Similarities Between Anjem Choudary And Britain First
George Bowden
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As Britain First ramps up its campaign against Anjem Choudary by visiting the Muslim cleric at his home, distinct similarities between the two cast their relationship in new light.

The group's leaders attended Choudary's house in east London over the weekend, with a video of their encounter since being viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook. View the clip above.

Extremist Choudary, who had his trial for allegedly inciting support for the so-called Islamic State postponed by two months, is seen slamming the door in Deputy Leader Jayda Fransen's face as she hurls abuse through the window panes.

But the far-right hate group and the Muslim cleric might not actually be all that dissimilar, a point not lost on the founder of Britain First, Jim Dowson, who claimed in 2014: “I think they’re [Britain First] becoming as much a problem as Anjem Choudary who they claim to oppose. They are just as bad as each other.”

Britain First and Anjem Choudary
They Both Want To Ban A Religion(01 of05)
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Both Britain First and Anjem Choudary have advocated banning a religion.

In fact, in Choudary's view, it's every religion other than Islam that ought to be outlawed. He wrote on Twitter last year: "The Khalifah (the succession) must ensure that no non-Muslim criticises Islam or tries to convert Muslims to their own false belief, only Islam is propagated."

For Britain First, the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris provided the impetus for it to propose a banning of Islam from the UK entirely. The religion and all its related practices were condoned in policy which received the approval of Britain First members. (credit:Ed Brown / Alamy)
They Both Want To Censor The Media(02 of05)
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Both Anjem Choudary and Britain First want to censor the media.

Choudary used his now defunct Twitter account to regularly lament the media's portrayal of Muslims. He wrote last year: "Many people attack Islam & Muslims on the basis of lies propagated by the media & kufaar (non-Muslims)... Verification is the pillar of the Deen of Al-Islam".

Meanwhile, Britain First used its latest conference to pass policy on banning the BBC and censoring the word "racist" from newspapers and on television. (credit:Piero Cruciatti / Alamy)
They Both Advocate Capital Punishment(03 of05)
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Both Choudary and Britain First have publicly advocated capital punishment.

A 2014 interview with Choudary ended with him explaining the merits of crucifixion to an interested passerby, while that year he wrote on Twitter: "Misconception that crucifixion has nothing to do with Islam rather Allah says crucifixion is one punishment for the highway robber."

Meanwhile Britain First leader Paul Golding advocated the hanging of his political opponents in a jocular speech announcing his London Mayoral candidacy last year. A Facebook post announcing the decision reportedly read: "...they (Golding's opponents) will face the wrath of the British First movement, make no mistake about it! We will not rest until every traitor is punished for their crimes against our country. And by punished, I mean good old-fashioned British justice at the end of a rope!" (credit:© Stephanie Bosset / Alamy)
They're Both Against Laws On 'Human Rights'(04 of05)
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Both Choudary and Britain First are vehemently opposed to the legal concept of "human rights".

Choudary's brand of Islam extols the concept of divine rights - in opposition to societal or human constructs. And he wrote last year: "Non-Muslims call for democracy, freedom, human rights, equality & Liberty, Muslims call for Shari'ah, submission, divine rights & obedience!"

At the same time, Britain First have waged a vehement war upon the European Court of Human Rights, and the Human Rights Act. Under the heading, "SCRAP THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT!", an article on the group's website reads: "The main reason Britain cannot deport foreign criminals, terrorists, rapists and murderers is because of 'Human Rights' legislation." (credit:© Paul Davey / Alamy)
They Both Have Inconvenient Truths From The Past(05 of05)
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Finally, both Choudary and Britain First's leaders share inconvenient truths from their past.

Choudary's time as a student at university was exposed as being one of debauchery and casual drug use. "Swilling beer and smoking dope," the Daily Mail declared in its report of the cleric's time at the University of Southampton. His former 'party animal' lifestyle apparently earned him a reputation on campus.

Britain First's deputy leader Jayda Fransen's family tree was exposed as revealing her family's relatively recent immigration to the UK. "Fransen is not a British name," the amateur genealogist who uncovered the links wrote. (credit:Alamy / Alamy)

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