Al Ghurabaa

Not to be confused with the Islamic eschatological term, Al-Ghurabaa.

Al Ghurabaa (Arabic: الغرباء‏; English: The Strangers) is a Muslim organization based in United Kingdom[1] which, along with The Saviour Sect, Islam4UK and others, is widely believed to be the reformed Al-Muhajiroun after it disbanded in 2004 by order of Omar Bakri Muhammad. Other members include Abu Izzadeen and Abu Uzair.

On 12 August 2005 Omar Bakri Muhammad was banned from Britain and excluded by Charles Clarke from returning from Lebanon.[2] On 17 July 2006 the group was proscribed under legislation in Britain outlawing organizations that support terrorism.[3] Home Secretary John Reid laid an order in Parliament which makes it a criminal offence for a person to belong to or encourage support for the group, to arrange meetings in its support, or to wear clothes or carry articles in public indicating support or membership.[4]

The name of the group is derived from a hadith (or tradition) ascribed to Muhammad, "Islam began as something strange and will end as something strange...so give glad tidings to the strangers."

Anjem Choudary, previously a leader of Al-Muhajiroun, was a spokesman or prominent figure in al Ghurabaa'.[5][6] In 2010 he reemerged as the leader of Islam4UK.

  1. ^ Travis, Alan (18 July 2006). "Reid uses new laws to ban two Islamist groups for 'glorifying terrorism'". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  2. ^ Ford, Richard; McGrory, Daniel (13 August 2005). "'Preacher of hate' is banned from Britain". Times Online. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  3. ^ Groups banned by new terror law, BBC News, 17 July 2006, retrieved 12 December 2009
  4. ^ "Reid bans two radical Muslim groups", The Guardian, 17 July 2006, retrieved 12 December 2009
  5. ^ Steele, John (16 March 2006), Arrests over cartoon protests, Daily Telegraph, retrieved 12 December 2009
  6. ^ Bowcott, Owen (6 February 2006), "Arrest extremist marchers, police told", The Guardian, retrieved 12 December 2009