A Leicester man accused of multiple terror offences has appeared at London’s Old Bailey. Majid Novsarka, also known as Majid Freeman, is described as a “political activist” by prosecutors and is charged with the encouragement of terrorism and supporting the terror proscribed organisation Hamas.
The 36-year-old, of Leicester’s Cecil Road, was charged by police last month with the encouragement of terrorism and supporting the terror proscribed organisation Hamas. Prosecutors at the Old Bailey on Friday (August 16) allege on various dates between Tuesday, December, 26 of last year, and Thursday, June 20, he expressed an opinion or belief supportive of Hamas.
Freeman is also accused of encouraging people to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism. This is in relation to a post on social media on Monday, March 11, and follows the 2015 deadly attack on the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
Freeman’s trial was set to be heard in Leicester but was changed to Birmingham Crown Court because of “strong feelings in the Leicester area” according to the Old Bailey. Lee Ingham, prosecuting, said the case should be heard in another location because the accused was “fairly well-known” in the area as a “political activist”.
Freeman is said to have made the posts on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter. He appeared in the dock wearing a blue suit and glasses.
Freeman is on conditional bail and ordered not to use or access social media to post or transmit anything with the exception of WhatsApp. He will next appear at the Old Bailey later this year.
