The vile anjem choudaryA MUSLIM march to promote sharia law in Britain looked set to end in violence today after rival demonstrators bombarded its hardline organisers with death threats.
London braced itself for clashes as the radical group Islam4UK claimed its enemies on the far right had threatened to disrupt their demo with violent attacks.
The Muslim fanatics are planning a massive march through the city as part of a campaign to bring the fundamental legal system to the UK.
But they said they were forced to change the route after hundreds of alleged threats from the British National Party and the English Defence League.
Last night the BNP denied its members had made threats and the EDL says it is simply holding its own demonstrations in London and Leeds.
But the presence of bitter political opponents in crowded city centres was bound to create a flashpoint.
In another Central London event, moderate Muslims were planning a demo to show Islam is a peaceful religion.
Islam4UK spokesman Anjem Choudary said they had been forced to change a previously well-publicised route through Westminster. They chose a secret location to avoid “credible” threats from right-wingers.
He said: “We are not a military organisation. We do not want to get involved in a physical confrontation. The main reason why we are relocating the march is because of the number of death threats and bomb threats we have received.
“We could take this with a pinch of salt but there are people out there – hooligans – who will get drunk and try to attack us. You cannot dismiss any kind of threats when many of our members will be there with women and children.”
Outlining their aims, Mr Choudary, who is Britain’s chief sharia law judge, said they wanted the system for everyone.
He dismissed criticism that the system imposes draconian penalties such as the stoning to death of unfaithful women.
The British-born former law student also predicted that sharia would be introduced “in our lifetime” – possibly as soon as 10 years.
Islam was the fastest-growing religion and Islam4UK road shows across the country had converted hundreds of people, he claimed. “If it happens in the next decade or in the next 50 years, that is something that you can’t predict,” he said.
“There is a tsunami of conversion. We are not going to make everyone become Muslims but people have the right to know there are alternatives.”
He said an Islamic flag will fly from Nelson’s Column, Trafalgar Square will become a place for Muslim worship, and table dancing clubs such as Stringfellows would become Islamic schools for women.
Punishments for breaching Islamic law would include public lashings and limbs would be amputated for serious offences such as theft.
He added: “We will not stop with this march. We will call upon Gordon Brown to give the authority to the leaders of the legal system to implement sharia law and we call upon the Queen to give up playing God.”
After that, exiled preacher Omar Bakri Mohammed delivered a 15-minute speech in a live telephone link from the Lebanon.
Bakri, who was banned from Britain in a crackdown on hate preachers after the 7/7 attacks, said Muslims should remain separate.
“We are living in a society which has man-made law. We don’t want ourselves to be integrated into the man-made system,” he said
Patrick Mercer, Tory MP and ex- Army officer, described Choudary’s plans as “extremely distasteful”. He added: “If anyone thinks those views are a step forward they are seriously deluded. They are repellent and repulsive.”
Last night Scotland Yard said it was aware of the radicals’ march and six counter-protests in London but had not been told of a change of route.
A spokesman added: “Without full details of what the group are planning it is hard for police to put in place an operation that allows the protest to go ahead while minimising the potential disruption to everyone else in central London wanting to go about their business as normal.”
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