Leicester activist charged with supporting Hamas

LONDON: Majid Freeman, accused of spreading misinformation about Hindus during the 2022 Leicester riots, appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Wednesday charged with supporting Hamas and encouraging terrorism.

Freeman (26), who helped Indian-origin Independent MP Shockat Adam win his seat by campaigning against former Leicester South MP Jonathan Ashworth in the recent general election, was charged with posting between Dec 26, 2023 and June 20, 2024 messages on his social media accounts supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Hamas, and in doing so was reckless as to whether his opinions would encourage others to support a proscribed organisation. This is contrary to Secs 12 (1A) and 6 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

He was also charged with publishing on March 11, 2024 a statement likely to be understood as a direct or indirect encouragement or other inducement to commission, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism and at the time he published it he either intended the public to be encouraged or was reckless as to whether they would be encouraged or induced by the statement to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism. This is contrary to Sec 1 of the Terrorism Act, 2006.

Freeman appeared in the dock with a Palestinian keffiyeh around his neck. His supporters stood outside the court building waving Palestinian flags.

Birgitte Hagem, prosecuting, claimed the March 11 post was in relation to the 2015 Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks. She said the first charge was in relation to a whole host of messages he openly posted on social media in which he allegedly expressed general support of Hamas and of the violent acts they perpetrated, and allegedly supported the targeting of Israeli soldiers and “made the wider suggestion if you don’t support resistance with violence, you are not a proper supporter”.

“He has 50,000 social media followers and was a media spokesman for Muslims to Leicester police, albeit self-appointed,” she said. “The protests when he was arrested show his position of influence as many turned up.”

Freeman did not enter any pleas and the case was sent to the Old Bailey to be heard on Aug 16.

Freeman, also known as Majid Novsarka, has conditional bail to not post on social media and to live at his address in Leicester.