Glen Jenvey
Encyclopedia
Glen Jenvey, born April 9, 1965, is a British journalist who states that he has devoted much of his time to infiltrating, undermining and exposing radical Islamic groups. He also states that he has infiltrated the Tamil Tigers
, working for them in London.
Jenvey says he used the internet to infiltrate terrorist organizations, and to have developed a relationship with Abu Hamza al-Masri
through these means (via Jenvey's Islamic News website, which posed as a genuine extremist site). Recorded film footage with James Ujaama was, he claims, obtained through similar means. Jenvey said that his tapes, in which Hamza called for Jihad
, were responsible for Hamza's arrest and trial. In the event, Hamza was convicted only of charges related to possession of the Encyclopedia of Afghan Jihad
. Recently, it has been reported that Jenvey has converted to Islam, and also taking down his Youtube page.
On 25 October 2009, a video (now taken down) was posted on the popular video hosting service, LiveLeak.com, which shows Jenvey admitting that his conversion to islam was fake and was part of a year-long undercover research effort to gather evidence for a forthcoming book he plans to release.
Jenvey appeared in the film Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
. He was interviewed by the BBC's Newsnight
programme on 17 April 2008 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHtRntXT4a4 in his Whiteparish, Wiltshire home about his internet monitoring activities. He had previously appeared on the programme in 2006.
ran an exclusive front-page story saying that participants in a discussion on Ummah.com, a British Muslim internet forum
, had made a "hate hit list" of British Jews
to be targeted by extremists over the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
. The story, which Jenvey had sold to news agency South West News Service http://www.swns.com/ featured Jenvey as an 'anti-terror expert', stating, "Those listed [on the forum] should treat it very seriously. Expect a hate campaign and intimidation by 20 or 30 thugs."
The UK magazine Private Eye
, following up information provided by blogger Tim Ireland, later said that Jenvey, posting to the forum under the pseudonym "Abuislam", had in fact created the only evidence that pointed to anything other than a peaceful letter-writing campaign. The story has since been removed from The Suns website following complaints to the UK's Press Complaints Commission
.
Sir Alan Sugar
, who was named as a terror target in Jenvey's story, instituted legal action against The Sun for publishing the article on 23 February 2009.
Jenvey subsequently said he converted to Islam, and released a full apology for the story on 19 August 2009. His apology cited the "chance to install fear back in Jews who were killing Muslims" as his motive.
On 31 December 2009, Jenvey was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred against Jews.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
, working for them in London.
Jenvey says he used the internet to infiltrate terrorist organizations, and to have developed a relationship with Abu Hamza al-Masri
Abu Hamza al-Masri
Abu Hamza al-Masri is an Egyptian Sunni activist known for his preaching of a violent and politicised interpretation of Islam, also known as militant Islamism or jihadism...
through these means (via Jenvey's Islamic News website, which posed as a genuine extremist site). Recorded film footage with James Ujaama was, he claims, obtained through similar means. Jenvey said that his tapes, in which Hamza called for Jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
, were responsible for Hamza's arrest and trial. In the event, Hamza was convicted only of charges related to possession of the Encyclopedia of Afghan Jihad
Encyclopedia of Afghan Jihad
Encyclopedia of Afghan Jihad is a manual of Jihad in eleven volumes, detailing how to make and use explosives and firearms, how to plan and carry out assassinations and other terrorist acts, and much more. It was found in the London residence of Islamic cleric Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri in May 2004...
. Recently, it has been reported that Jenvey has converted to Islam, and also taking down his Youtube page.
On 25 October 2009, a video (now taken down) was posted on the popular video hosting service, LiveLeak.com, which shows Jenvey admitting that his conversion to islam was fake and was part of a year-long undercover research effort to gather evidence for a forthcoming book he plans to release.
Jenvey appeared in the film Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West, also called Obsession, is a 2005 documentary film about the perceived threat of radical Islam to Western civilization. Using extensive Arab television footage it claims to give an 'insider's view' of the hatred preached by radicals to incite global...
. He was interviewed by the BBC's Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
programme on 17 April 2008 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHtRntXT4a4 in his Whiteparish, Wiltshire home about his internet monitoring activities. He had previously appeared on the programme in 2006.
Criticism and controversy
Jenvey has been accused of manufacturing evidence of Islamist threats. On 7 January 2009 the UK tabloid newspaper The SunThe Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
ran an exclusive front-page story saying that participants in a discussion on Ummah.com, a British Muslim internet forum
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
, had made a "hate hit list" of British Jews
British Jews
British Jews are Jews who live in, or are citizens of, the United Kingdom. In the 2001 Census, 266,740 people listed their religion as Jewish. The UK is home to the second largest Jewish population in Europe, and has the fifth largest Jewish community worldwide...
to be targeted by extremists over the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
The Gaza War, known as Operation Cast Lead in Israel and as the Gaza Massacre in the Arab world, was a three-week bombing and invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel, and hundreds of rocket attacks on south of Israel which...
. The story, which Jenvey had sold to news agency South West News Service http://www.swns.com/ featured Jenvey as an 'anti-terror expert', stating, "Those listed [on the forum] should treat it very seriously. Expect a hate campaign and intimidation by 20 or 30 thugs."
The UK magazine Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
, following up information provided by blogger Tim Ireland, later said that Jenvey, posting to the forum under the pseudonym "Abuislam", had in fact created the only evidence that pointed to anything other than a peaceful letter-writing campaign. The story has since been removed from The Suns website following complaints to the UK's Press Complaints Commission
Press Complaints Commission
The Press Complaints Commission is a voluntary regulatory body for British printed newspapers and magazines, consisting of representatives of the major publishers. The PCC is funded by the annual levy it charges newspapers and magazines...
.
Sir Alan Sugar
Alan Sugar
Alan Michael Sugar, Baron Sugar is a British entrepreneur, media personality and political advisor. From humble origins in the East End of London, Sugar now has an estimated fortune of £770m , and was ranked 89th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2011...
, who was named as a terror target in Jenvey's story, instituted legal action against The Sun for publishing the article on 23 February 2009.
Jenvey subsequently said he converted to Islam, and released a full apology for the story on 19 August 2009. His apology cited the "chance to install fear back in Jews who were killing Muslims" as his motive.
On 31 December 2009, Jenvey was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred against Jews.
Articles and websites by Jenvey
- Jenvey's old Islamic News website on the Wayback Machine
- Jenvey's Youtube page
- "The Hidden Truth behind the Sri Lankan Peace Process", Asian Tribune, 22 October 2006
- "Memoirs of an anti-LTTE undercover agent in London", Asian Tribune, 24 October 2006
- "Memoirs of an anti-LTTE undercover agent in London - PART II : Delicious Curry served with a Stark Warning!", Asian Tribune, 25 October 2006
- "Memoirs of an anti-LTTE undercover agent in London - PART III: "Is there a D-Notice on us?"", Asian Tribune, 26 October 2006
- "Memoirs of an anti-LTTE undercover agent in London - PART IV: Oh what a Friday it was….", Asian Tribune, 27 October 2006