Tommy Robinson jailed for 18 months after admitting contempt of court over Syrian schoolboy allegations
SUMMARY
British activist Tommy Robinson, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on contempt of court charges for breaching a 2021 High Court injunction that barred him from allegations against Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian refugee. The controversy began after Robinson posted videos on Facebook in which he claimed Hijazi had harassed young English girls. The High Court determined that these claims were 'defamatory' and awarded Hijazi £100,000 in damages, but Robinson claimed bankruptcy, stating he couldn’t pay the damages. The recent charges centered on Robinson’s discussions of Hijazi’s case across multiple platforms, despite the 2021 court order. He appeared in court acknowledging ten counts of breaching the injunction, including statements made on various podcasts, social media streams, and a public film screening. Robinson defended his statements, maintaining that his commentary expressed personal views on a case that had gained public interest, rather than directly disobeying the court order.
