Hate preacher freed ...then calls British troops ‘murderers’
HATE preacher Abu Izzadeen celebrated his release from jail yesterday by branding British troops “murderers” and urging the public to shun the Poppy Appeal.
The Islamic radical, 35, left Pentonville Prison in north London after serving a sentence for inciting terrorism.
Defiant Izzadeen was surrounded by chanting supporters as he accused British troops in Afghanistan of torture, rape and murder.
And he demanded a boycott of the charity appeal supporting the work of the Royal British Legion.
He ranted: “I don’t believe anybody, even non-Muslims, should buy a poppy because they should not endorse this illegal war.
“The reality is that the troops are carrying out legalised killing, which is murder as far as I’m concerned.
“Houses are being destroyed, mosques are being destroyed, Muslims are being murdered and tortured by the forces.”
Izzadeen – born a Christian of Jamaican parents and formerly known as Trevor Brooks – was cheered by the mob.
A spokesman for the Royal British Legion declined to comment on Izzadeen’s slurs, but said: “Wearing the poppy as millions and millions do every year, and which we are very grateful for, is actually showing support for men and women in the Armed Services who have sacrificed everything for the country and who continue to serve the country.” Izzadeen, who also called for sharia law in Muslim-only UK courts, was jailed in 2008 for four-and-a-half years, later reduced on appeal. Challenged by the Daily Express to condemn the 9/11 and 7/7 terror attacks, he retorted: “I’m not obliged to condemn anything.”