Activist Tommy Robinson has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for contempt of court after repeatedly breaching a court order by releasing and promoting a film containing libellous allegations.
Tommy Robinson, the political activist whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to multiple counts of contempt of court. The charges stem from Robinson’s continued defiance of a court order prohibiting him from repeating libellous claims made against a Syrian refugee, culminating in the release of a film titled “Silenced” that violated the injunction.
During the sentencing on Monday, Judge Johnson criticized Robinson’s actions as a “planned, deliberate, direct, flagrant breach of the court’s orders.” The judge underscored the importance of adhering to legal rulings, stating, “Nobody is above the law. Nobody can pick and choose which injunctions they obey and those they do not.”
The case centers on Robinson’s previous claims about Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian refugee who was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in 2018. After footage of the assault went viral, Robinson made false allegations on social media, leading to a successful libel case brought by Hijazi in 2021. Robinson was ordered to pay £100,000 in damages and was subjected to an injunction preventing him from making further defamatory statements about Hijazi.
The recent legal actions against Robinson included two separate contempt claims filed by the Solicitor General. The first, issued in June, accused Robinson of breaching the court’s order on four occasions, including by publishing the film “Silenced” in May 2023. The second claim, brought in August, involved six additional breaches, including playing the film at a public demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London.
Aidan Eardley, KC, representing the Solicitor General, argued that Robinson’s actions demonstrated a “declared intention to disobey the order,” adding, “The harm here is that millions of people could see Mr. Yaxley-Lennon thumbing his nose at the court.” Eardley emphasized that the case was not about Robinson’s political beliefs but about “disobedience to a court order” and the undermining of the rule of law.
Robinson’s defense, led by Sasha Wass, KC, acknowledged the breaches but argued that Robinson’s actions were driven by his commitment to free speech. Wass said, “He accepts his culpability because he passionately believes in free speech, a free press, and the overwhelming desire that he has to expose the truth.” Despite this defense, she confirmed that Robinson understood he would be sentenced for the breaches.
Robinson’s sentence includes time already served, with the possibility of reducing it to 14 months if he “purges” his contempt by removing the offending content, such as the video pinned to his profile on X. However, Robinson’s response in court suggested he had no intention of doing so, as he shook his head and appeared to say “nah” when informed of the option.
The court’s decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between Robinson and the judicial system, highlighting the consequences of defying court orders and the limits of free speech when it comes into conflict with the rule of law. As Robinson begins his sentence, the ruling serves as a reminder of the judiciary’s role in upholding legal standards and ensuring accountability.
Britain's banned documentary – SILENCED pic.twitter.com/HKIBPsuZTA
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 27, 2024
