Controversial Imam supports Charlie Hebdo shooting in France

No fewer than 12 people died after three armed men stormed the building of a satirical newspaper - Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday, January 7.

In the letter published online by USA Today, Choudary known for making controversial statements said: "Contrary to popular misconception, Islam does not mean peace but rather means submission to the commands of Allah alone. Therefore, Muslims do not believe in the concept of freedom of expression, as their speech and actions are determined by divine revelation and not based on people's desires."

He adds: "Although Muslims may not agree about the idea of freedom of expression, even non-Muslims who espouse it say it comes with responsibilities. In an increasingly unstable and insecure world, the potential consequences of insulting the Messenger Muhammad are known to Muslims and non-Muslims alike."

The post asks: "Why did France allow the tabloid to provoke Muslims?" and Choudary says: "Western governments are content to sacrifice liberties and freedoms when being complicit to torture and rendition — or when restricting the freedom of movement of Muslims, under the guise of protecting national security."

Read his controversial tweets below:

The name Choudary is not new to controversial issues bordering on religion and Islam.

In 2014, it was gathered that he held a network dubbed the "gateway to terror", Choudary has been accused of hailing terrorists responsible for 9/11 attacks, tagging them "magnificent martyrs".