Abu Hamza convicted of eleven charges

07/02/2006

Abu Hamza was convicted at the Old Bailey today of six counts of soliciting to murder, three counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, one count of possessing threatening, abusive or insulting recordings of sound and one count of possessing a document containing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

Speaking today Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald QC said:

"Abu Hamza was prosecuted because it was clear to us that his sermons were designed to solicit murder and incite racial hatred.

"When we look at cases like this we obviously bear in mind that people have a right to free speech. The right to express views that others might find offensive is an important aspect of an open and democratic society. But encouraging murder and inciting hatred against others on grounds of race are not.

"When we reviewed Abu Hamza's sermons, we were satisfied that he was directly and deliberately stirring up hatred against Jewish people and encouraging murder of those he referred to as non-believers. Not only did he repeatedly advocate that Muslims should kill non-believers, he set out to persuade his listeners that it was part of their religious duty to do so.

"The prosecution made it clear in court that this was not a trial against Islam. What Abu Hamza was preaching was a dangerous mix of hatred and violence rooted in his own extreme views and distorted interpretations of the Koran. It had nothing to do with the true teachings of Islam as it is practised peacefully and tolerantly by millions of people in Britain and around the world. The extremity of his views as expressed in his speeches is unacceptable in law and has no place in a democratic and multi-faith society.

"Behaviour like Abu Hamza's is not a legitimate exercise in free speech. In fact it deliberately threatens openness and diversity. Where appropriate, prosecutors will not hesitate to bring further cases in this category in future."

Notes to Editors

1. Media enquiries to CPS Press Office on 020 7710 6091.
2. Abu Hamza was charged with 15 counts:

 

• 9 counts of soliciting to murder [contrary to section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act]
• 4 counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to stir up racial hatred, [contrary to section 18 (1) of the Public Order Act 1986]
• one count of possession of threatening, abusive or insulting recordings of sound, with intent to stir up racial hatred [contrary to section 23 of the Public Order Act 1986]
• one count under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. [possession of document or record containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.]
3. Maximum sentences:

 

• Soliciting to murder. Maximum penalty is imprisonment for life.
• Terrorism Act 2000 (section 58). Maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment.
• Public Order Act 1986 (sections 17 - 29) - incitement to racial hatred. Maximum penalty is seven years imprisonment.