Hate preacher Anjem Choudary finally appeared in court yesterday, accused of inviting support for the banned terrorist group Islamic State on social media.

Choudary is the UK’s most outspoken and provocative Islamist preacher but has always insisted his activities remain on the right side of the law.

His influence has spread beyond this country via the internet, where he holds regular speeches, and mainstream media interviews.

He has regularly insisted that Islamic State is building the sort of society he would ‘love to live in’ with his family.

Radical: Anjem Choudary is the UK’s most outspoken and provocative Islamist preacher but has always insisted his activities remain on the right side of the law

Choudary appeared behind bullet-proof glass in the dock at a packed Westminster Magistrates’ Court with co-accused Mohammed Mizanur Rahman (pictured)

The decision to charge him marks a key moment for counter-terrorist detectives who have been keeping a close eye on his activities for many years.

Choudary has been on bail since his arrest alongside 11 of his followers in raids across London and the Midlands last September.

The arrests, which he described as ‘politically motivated’, came 24 hours before Parliament voted on air strikes targeting Islamic State-controlled areas of Syria.

Yesterday the 48-year-old trained lawyer said he would represent himself as he fights a charge which carries up to ten years in prison.

During a 25-minute rant the firebrand, who wore a flowing white robe, insisted it is only Prime Minister David Cameron and the police who are guilty of any crime.

Choudary appeared behind bullet-proof glass in the dock at a packed Westminster Magistrates’ Court with co-accused Mohammed Mizanur Rahman.

When asked his plea, Choudary replied: ‘I will be pleading Cameron, police and the judges are guilty and the only people who are innocent here are me and Mr Rahman.’ Deputy District Judge Howard Riddle said he would take that as an indication of a not guilty plea.

Arriving to Westminster Magistrates Court, Anjem Choudary is facing terrorism charges related to ISIS

Abu Saalihah (pictured) and other associates of Choudary came to give their support to the preacher

Abu Haleema, (pictured) a well known associate of Anjem Choudary, was banned from using social media last May

Father-of-five Choudary added: ‘The fact is that the whole procedure from beginning to end is orchestrated to silence the Muslim community.’

Choudary, of Ilford, North-East London, and Rahman, 32, of Whitechapel, East London, are accused of ‘inviting support for a proscribed terrorist organisation’ – an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 – between June 29, 2014, and March 6, 2015. Choudary is alleged to have used his social media accounts to support Islamic State, particularly its bloodthirsty leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He was brought to court under guard and remanded in custody at Belmarsh Prison.

The two defendants smiled at each other and did not stand up as Mr Riddle entered the room. Choudary also refused to read out his address.

He claimed he would have been treated better in a Sharia court, criticised officials who did not give him a pen and complained that the judge had refused his request to be allowed out of the dock to represent himself from the main part of the court.

Choudary said he was a family man and would gladly take his wife and children to live under Sharia law in Iraq or Syria.

David Cawthorne, prosecuting, said Choudary wields huge influence online. Outlining the charge against him and his co-defendant, he said: ‘Both are men of learning and educated men and are familiar with the legislation and were aware of the risk.

‘But despite that awareness they [went] too far and their intention was clear from the posting on social media.

‘I think that Mr Choudary had 32,000 followers on Facebook. By encouraging the requirement for travel to the Islamic State, they are calling and inviting support for a proscribed organisation.’

The two men will appear at the Old Bailey on August 28.