FAR-RIGHT activist Tommy Robinson, known for founding the English Defence League (EDL), has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to contempt of court by repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee. Robinson, 41, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, admitted in Woolwich Crown Court to breaching a High Court order issued after he was successfully sued for libel by the refugee in 2021.
The injunction, issued in 2021, specifically barred Robinson from repeating defamatory statements about Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian boy who had been bullied at his school in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The Solicitor General launched two contempt claims against Robinson earlier this year, asserting that he had “knowingly” violated the injunction on multiple occasions.
Appearing in court today in a grey suit and waistcoat, Robinson confirmed his guilt when questioned by Mr Justice Johnson, simply responding “yes” to accepting that he had committed the breaches. He had been remanded in custody since Friday after surrendering to police in Kent in an unrelated matter.
Aidan Eardley KC, representing the Solicitor General, informed the court of an agreed “resolution” regarding the contempt allegations. According to court filings, Robinson’s breaches included releasing and promoting a film titled Silenced in May 2022, which contained the defamatory content about Hijazi, and repeating the claims in three separate interviews conducted between February and June 2023. Despite the High Court’s order, the film remains prominently featured on Robinson’s social media profile on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Background of the libel case
The original case dates back to October 2018, when Hijazi was attacked at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield. Robinson subsequently published false claims about the boy, leading to what Hijazi’s lawyers described as “a devastating effect” on the young refugee and his family. The family, who had sought refuge in the UK, reportedly felt forced to relocate and Hijazi had to abandon his education due to the attention and backlash resulting from Robinson’s comments.
In the libel ruling, Mr Justice Nicklin ordered Robinson to pay £100,000 in damages to Hijazi, along with his legal fees. The court also imposed the injunction to prevent Robinson from repeating the allegations, which he has now admitted to breaching.
Robinson’s recent legal troubles
This latest sentencing follows Robinson’s detention in Kent last Friday, when he was charged under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for failing to provide the PIN to his mobile phone. He had been scheduled to lead a rally in London the following day but remained in custody over the weekend.
Despite Robinson’s absence, thousands of his supporters gathered in central London on Saturday, carrying placards reading “Two tier Keir fuelled the riots” and chanting “We want Tommy out” as they marched from Victoria Station to Parliament Square.
Under contempt of court laws, those found guilty can face up to two years in prison, fines, or both.
