[Telegraph] Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has been granted bail as he awaits trial for allegedly encouraging support for Daesh. Choudary appeared before the Old Bailey by video link from top security Belmarsh prison alongside his co-accused Mohammed Rahman on Friday. Following lengthy legal arguments, Saunders granted them both bail with a range of strict conditions ahead of their trial, which is due to start next year.
At a hearing last week, lawyers for the men had applied for conditional bail, but the senior judge adjourned his decision after asking for more information from the prosecution and defense.
Choudary and Rahman made copious notes throughout the hearing. The radical Muslim preacher, who has previously protested his innocence, addressed the judge directly on occasion even though he was represented by a barrister in court.
Both men had already spent months on police bail after their arrest in September last year and they were only remanded in custody after they were charged.
Choudary and Rahman are due back in court for a plea and case management hearing on December 11 with a provisional trial date set for January 11. The trial is scheduled to be heard by a High Court judge and will take three to four weeks.