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Treason threat cleric 'flees UK'
Omar Bakri Mohammed was one of three expected to face scrutiny
A controversial Islamic cleric has left the UK for the Middle East, his spokesman has said, amid speculation he would be investigated for treason.
Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed - former head of radical group Al Muhajiroun - left on Saturday for Lebanon, his colleague Anjem Choudary told the BBC.
Tony Blair had warned Mr Mohammed's organisation faced a potential ban under new anti-terrorism measures.
Mr Choudary said the cleric believed "Britain had declared war on Muslims".
The news came as it was revealed police and lawyers were to consider whether some outspoken Islamist radicals could face treason charges.
He has felt that he has been unable to practice his religion
Anjem Choudary
The Crown Prosecution Service's head of anti-terrorism will meet Scotland Yard officers in the next few days.
Abu Izzadeen and Abu Uzair, along with Omar Bakri Mohammed, are expected to come under scrutiny.
The crime of betraying one's country has long been regarded as one of the most serious of offences. The death penalty for the offence was abolished only in 1998 and it now carries a penalty of life imprisonment.
But the government's reviewer of anti-terror laws, Lord Carlile QC, said he did not think it would be appropriate to bring treason charges.
Lebanese passport
Last week Mr Blair said Mr Mohammed's Al Muhajiroun or its successor organisations would be banned.
The cleric last year announced he was disbanding the organisation - although its former members have been linked to two new radical bodies.
Mainstream Muslim organisations have denounced the cleric's views, saying that he does not represent the true voice of Islam.
Speaking to the BBC News Website, Mr Choudary - the former right hand man of Bakri Mohammed - said the cleric no longer believed Britain was a safe country for Muslims.
Abu Uzair and Abu Izzadeen were also expected to be investigated
"He flew out on Saturday and used a Lebanese passport that he recently got from the embassy." he said.
"What he has done is made the 'hirja' to another place because he has felt that he has been unable to practice his religion.
"He believes that war has been declared against Muslims in the country. He has decided to go elsewhere."
The Arabic word 'hirja' commonly means to seek religious sanctuary and refers to an event in the early years of Islam's history.
Mr Choudary said that Bakri Mohammed's final destination was at present unclear. He had no intention of going to his home country of Syria but may end up in one of the Emirate countries, he said.
Family remain
The cleric had said his followers would soon be able to "access him" with a planned new presence on the internet and that the British people would hear from him soon.
Asked if Bakri Mohammed had gone because he feared being either deported or prosecuted for his militant views, Mr Choudary said: "He was not afraid to stay behind [in the UK] for any reason at all. It's a case of him being able to practice his religion.
"But he has always said that if the British people did not want him to stay, then he would go."
Mr Choudary said that Mr Mohammed's family had remained behind in Britain and that he had not disposed of his assets in the country - but he was "sure" that the radical preacher would not be returning because he did not hold a British passport.
Omar Bakri Mohammed was one of three expected to face scrutiny
A controversial Islamic cleric has left the UK for the Middle East, his spokesman has said, amid speculation he would be investigated for treason.
Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed - former head of radical group Al Muhajiroun - left on Saturday for Lebanon, his colleague Anjem Choudary told the BBC.
Tony Blair had warned Mr Mohammed's organisation faced a potential ban under new anti-terrorism measures.
Mr Choudary said the cleric believed "Britain had declared war on Muslims".
The news came as it was revealed police and lawyers were to consider whether some outspoken Islamist radicals could face treason charges.
He has felt that he has been unable to practice his religion
Anjem Choudary
The Crown Prosecution Service's head of anti-terrorism will meet Scotland Yard officers in the next few days.
Abu Izzadeen and Abu Uzair, along with Omar Bakri Mohammed, are expected to come under scrutiny.
The crime of betraying one's country has long been regarded as one of the most serious of offences. The death penalty for the offence was abolished only in 1998 and it now carries a penalty of life imprisonment.
But the government's reviewer of anti-terror laws, Lord Carlile QC, said he did not think it would be appropriate to bring treason charges.
Lebanese passport
Last week Mr Blair said Mr Mohammed's Al Muhajiroun or its successor organisations would be banned.
The cleric last year announced he was disbanding the organisation - although its former members have been linked to two new radical bodies.
Mainstream Muslim organisations have denounced the cleric's views, saying that he does not represent the true voice of Islam.
Speaking to the BBC News Website, Mr Choudary - the former right hand man of Bakri Mohammed - said the cleric no longer believed Britain was a safe country for Muslims.
Abu Uzair and Abu Izzadeen were also expected to be investigated
"He flew out on Saturday and used a Lebanese passport that he recently got from the embassy." he said.
"What he has done is made the 'hirja' to another place because he has felt that he has been unable to practice his religion.
"He believes that war has been declared against Muslims in the country. He has decided to go elsewhere."
The Arabic word 'hirja' commonly means to seek religious sanctuary and refers to an event in the early years of Islam's history.
Mr Choudary said that Bakri Mohammed's final destination was at present unclear. He had no intention of going to his home country of Syria but may end up in one of the Emirate countries, he said.
Family remain
The cleric had said his followers would soon be able to "access him" with a planned new presence on the internet and that the British people would hear from him soon.
Asked if Bakri Mohammed had gone because he feared being either deported or prosecuted for his militant views, Mr Choudary said: "He was not afraid to stay behind [in the UK] for any reason at all. It's a case of him being able to practice his religion.
"But he has always said that if the British people did not want him to stay, then he would go."
Mr Choudary said that Mr Mohammed's family had remained behind in Britain and that he had not disposed of his assets in the country - but he was "sure" that the radical preacher would not be returning because he did not hold a British passport.
