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Firebrand preacher Anjem Choudary today defended leading dozens of Muslim protesters on a march through east London demanding businesses stop selling alcohol, warning: “This is just the beginning.”

The group circulated leaflets in the Brick Lane area warning restaurants and off licence owners selling alcohol they face 40 lashes under Sharia law.

Around 60 men and women dressed in burqas handed the letters to Muslim-owned businesses.

Choudary, who formerly led the banned Al-Muhajiroun Islamist group said: “What we did is we posted a notice to the shop owners saying that under Sharia and under the Koran the sale of alcohol is prohibited and if one were to also drink alcohol, that would be 40 lashes.

“We were there to teach them that just because they are living among non-Muslims is no excuse because Sharia law will be implemented in Britain, and so they should be aware that just because it is not Sharia today, they can’t just do whatever they like.

“There will be no more pubs, no more gambling houses, no more national lottery.

“All women would have to be covered up appropriately and wear the niqab or veil and so there will be no prostitution. By 2050, Britain will be a majority Muslim country. “It will be the end of freedom of democracy and submission to God. We don’t believe in democracy, as soon as they have authority, Muslims should implement Sharia. This is what we’re trying to teach people.”

The rally was planned to coincide with ‘Black Friday’ last week, when many office workers headed out for Christmas parties. English Defence League members delayed the start of the march by launching a counter-demonstration.

Choudary told the crowd: “We cannot live among the non-Muslims and see this evil take place.”

The east London-based Shariah Project group will be arranging many more similar rallies in the future, Choudary said, adding: “This is just the beginning.”

The hardline cleric also told how the group advocate adulterers being stoned to death, if there were four witnesses to the “evil”, while thieves should have their hand cut off.

He denied “recruiting” young Muslims to fight in Syria, but added: “I’m not sending anyone abroad but I support their Islamic duty.”

A police spokesman confirmed no arrests were made at Friday’s rally and that no further action is likely.

Hard-line group The Shariah Project told the Standard such rallies will become increasingly popular as the number of disaffected Muslim youths grows.