Tommy Robinson, a prominent far-right figure in the UK, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Monday for violating a court order. This order barred him from making false claims about a teenage Syrian refugee who had successfully sued him for libel.
During the court proceedings, Robinson admitted to breaching a High Court injunction from 2021, which prohibited him from repeating the libelous statements. Justice Jeremy Johnson emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, stating, “The breaches were not accidental or negligent… Each breach of the injunction was a considered and deliberate violation of the court’s order.”
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is known for founding the English Defence League, a nationalist group known for its anti-Muslim demonstrations in the late 2000s and early 2010s. He returned to the UK last week after spending several months abroad and surrendered to police in Kent before his court hearing in Woolwich, a town in southeastern London.
The sentencing came just two days after a rally in London, attended by thousands of his supporters. This event was met with a counter-demonstration, but both gatherings were mostly peaceful, with only a few arrests reported.
In recent years, Robinson’s prominence in far-right politics has fluctuated. He was banned from Twitter in 2018 for violating its rules on hateful conduct, and his accounts on Facebook and Instagram were suspended the following year for hate speech violations. However, after Elon Musk acquired Twitter (now X) in 2022, Robinson’s account was reinstated, providing him with a renewed platform. One of his posts this year even received a response from Musk, featuring two exclamation marks.
A video titled “Silenced,” in which Robinson discusses his lost libel case, has garnered 55 million views. The judge noted that Robinson could potentially have his sentence reduced by four months if he demonstrated compliance with the court order by removing the offending video. However, the judge expressed skepticism, stating that Robinson showed no intention to follow the injunction in the future.
Robinson has continued to disseminate false claims in interviews and acknowledged other violations. Prosecutor Aidan Eardley highlighted that “the material is still out there and some of it is under the defendant’s control.”
His defense attorney, Sasha Wass, acknowledged Robinson’s accountability but argued that he acted out of a strong belief in free speech and a desire to reveal the truth. Recently, he has forged connections with right-wing groups in the United States, appearing on outlets like Fox News and receiving financial support from the conservative Middle East Forum. Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, imprisoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol riots, has described Robinson as an inspiration.
Robinson has faced significant scrutiny, especially after a stabbing incident in August that resulted in the deaths of three children at a dance class in Southport, England. He was accused of inciting riots that followed this tragedy across several locations in the country.
Additionally, Robinson was charged on Friday with violating the Terrorism Act 2000 for allegedly refusing to provide police with access to his mobile phone when requested.
The case at hand pertains to Robinson’s repeated false claims about Jamal Hijazi, a teenage Syrian refugee who was assaulted at a school in northern England. After Hijazi sued Robinson in 2021, the court found Robinson guilty of libel and ordered him to pay £100,000 (approximately $137,000) in damages, along with the teenager’s legal fees. The judge stated that Hijazi “became the target of abuse,” forcing him and his family to leave their home and causing him to abandon his education.
The court issued an injunction prohibiting Robinson from repeating similar allegations against Hijazi. However, a video containing those claims was presented at a far-right protest in London in July.
Robinson has a history of criminal convictions, having served four prison sentences for various offenses, including assault, using a false passport, mortgage fraud, and contempt of court.
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