❗️After 13 hours of deliberation, British jury fails to convict activist for posts supporting Palestinian resistance
A Birmingham jury has failed to reach a verdict in the high-profile trial of Majid Freeman, an activist accused by the British state of supporting Hamas through his social media advocacy. After more than thirteen hours of deliberation, the court was forced to order a retrial as jurors could not agree that Freeman’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram constituted a criminal offense. The prosecution attempted to paint the thirty-eight-year-old as an effective propagandist for proscribed groups, but the defense successfully argued that his content was a legitimate expression of support for the right of an occupied people to resist genocide.
During the two-week trial, the Crown focused on Freeman’s use of specific symbols and his amplification of videos showing Israeli atrocities in Gaza, claiming these were tools used to humanize armed resistance. However, Freeman maintained that his posts were intended to raise awareness of the ongoing war crimes being committed against Palestinians rather than incite violence. He told the court that while he does not support any specific group, he believes every Palestinian has the inherent right to defend themselves against Israeli aggression through the use of force, a position grounded in the context of the broader liberation struggle.
Outside the court, Freeman welcomed the prospect of a 2027 retrial, noting that it provides another opportunity to place the evidence of Israeli war crimes before a jury of the British public. The activist, who was previously acquitted of charges related to the 2022 Leicester riots, slammed the state for exhausting massive resources to prosecute him over emojis and religious prayers.
❗️After 13 hours of deliberation, British jury fails to convict activist for posts supporting Palestinian resistance
A Birmingham jury has failed to reach a verdict in the high-profile trial of Majid Freeman, an activist accused by the British state of supporting Hamas through his social media advocacy. After more than thirteen hours of deliberation, the court was forced to order a retrial as jurors could not agree that Freeman’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram constituted a criminal offense. The prosecution attempted to paint the thirty-eight-year-old as an effective propagandist for proscribed groups, but the defense successfully argued that his content was a legitimate expression of support for the right of an occupied people to resist genocide.
During the two-week trial, the Crown focused on Freeman’s use of specific symbols and his amplification of videos showing Israeli atrocities in Gaza, claiming these were tools used to humanize armed resistance. However, Freeman maintained that his posts were intended to raise awareness of the ongoing war crimes being committed against Palestinians rather than incite violence. He told the court that while he does not support any specific group, he believes every Palestinian has the inherent right to defend themselves against Israeli aggression through the use of force, a position grounded in the context of the broader liberation struggle.
Outside the court, Freeman welcomed the prospect of a 2027 retrial, noting that it provides another opportunity to place the evidence of Israeli war crimes before a jury of the British public. The activist, who was previously acquitted of charges related to the 2022 Leicester riots, slammed the state for exhausting massive resources to prosecute him over emojis and religious prayers.
https://t.me/thecradlemedia/59407