"Khaled Hasjaad Convicted For Wearing Hamas-style Headband to London Pro-Palestine Rally"

Hi and welcome to this Jason King B'ham Insight for VPN: REGIONAL NETWORK:

Palestinian- Born Tunisian Khaled Hasjaan, of Birmingham, has been found guilty of arousing suspicion that he was supporting a terrorist group.

The 25-year-old had donned a green headband at a 25th December protest in London, imitating those worn by Hamas fighters.

Hasjaan claimed during his trial at City Of London's Magistrates' Court that his headband was not a sign supporting Hamas. The headband he wore was emblazoned with the Shahada, a text declaring his faith as a Muslim, and he claimed that the green was to match to Saudi Arabian flag.

However, the court heard from the prosecutions' witness, expert in Arabic and Islamic studies, that this was not plausible explanation, and that they headband would be understood to symbolise support for Hamas.

In a case requiring specialist knowledge, district Judge Nina Tempia took into account the expert testimony from two academics, Professor Robert Gleave and Hugh Lovatt. They discussed the intricate details of Arabic script on the headband in question and the resemblance to the Saudi Arabian flag. There was careful consideration from her before reaching a verdict of guilt for Hajsaad.

She said: 'Both witnesses I heard from are clearly experts in their field. Both Mr Lovatt and Professor Gleave agreed that the Shahada was a statement of faith.

'Professor Gleave accepted that in the conflict between Palestine and Israel there was no other organisation in the arena apart from Hamas that was readily associated with Shahada on a green background.

'I have to decide whether he was wearing it in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he was a supporter of that proscribed organisation.

'I am satisfied that the crown have proved their case to the criminal standard.

'Hamas is the most notable Palestinian group associated with the colour green and given the context of where the defendant was, wearing the headband on a pro-Palestine march, there would be no reason for someone to wear a headband of a Saudi flag.

'It clearly did not have the Saudi sword on it. I find the defendant guilty of the offence.

Therefore, at City of London Magistrates’ Court, Hajsaad was found guilty of wearing an item of clothing to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation – namely Hamas.

Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “By wearing the green headband in the context of a pro-Palestine protest in central London, Khaled Hajsaad aroused suspicion that he was supporting Hamas – a proscribed terrorist organisation.

“Wearing such items in public creates a risk of encouraging others to support Hamas.

“When people break the law – whether by hateful speech, supporting proscribed organisations or by threatening public order – we prosecute swiftly and independently."

He promised that the public would continue to see firm action in this area and further prosecutions by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.

Jason King

Birmingham City-Desk

Twitter (X) @JasonKingNews

Jasonkingnews@gmail.com