Independent journalist Tommy Robinson has been imprisoned for 18 months for contempt of court in England. The sentencing follows a protest on Saturday that saw thousands rally in support of the anti-grooming gangs activist.
Robinson pleaded guilty to violating a court order banning him from making certain claims against Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian teenager who went viral on social media after a video was shared of another teenager pouring a bottle of water on him at school. Robinson alleged that Hijazi, who was said to have been the victim of bullying, was actually the aggressor, resulting in a libel case that saw Robinson ordered to pay the Syrian £100,000 and subjected to an injunction prohibiting him from repeating the allegations. However, Robinson went on to produce a documentary detailing evidence in support of his allegations, resulting in charges of contempt of court for breaching the injunction.
“Court injunctions must be obeyed,” insisted the sentencing judge, adding: “Nobody is above the law; nobody can pick and choose which laws and injunctions they obey and which they do not, even if they are convinced an injunction has been wrongly granted.”
Separately, Robinson was arrested and charged with terror offenses for refusing to provide his phone PIN code to police on Friday, preventing him from attending his pre-planned ‘United the Kingdom’ rally in central London on Saturday.
The rally went ahead regardless, with thousands rallying in his support, marching from Victoria Station to Parliament Square and spilling beyond their initial meeting point.
In place of a speech by Robinson, rally attendees watched a public screening of Robinson’s latest documentary, Lawfare, describing past efforts by police and prosecutors to imprison him.
This is the best footage you will see of the Unite the Kingdom Rally in central London yesterday. Amazing drone footage. Tommy Robinson is spearheading a wave of British patriotism. @Keir_Starmer locked him up but this is bigger than one man. The people are rising up!… https://t.co/YMARQkxjIR pic.twitter.com/ewd81YnwR5
— Hearts of Oak (@HeartsofOakUK) October 27, 2024