Activist tells jury he does not support Hamas

A social media activist accused of encouraging terrorism has told a jury he is not a supporter of Hamas and said he used his online following to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza.

Majid Novsarka, otherwise known as Majid Freeman, has denied encouraging terrorism, inviting support for the proscribed organisation Hamas and expressing support for a proscribed organisation.

On Tuesday, the defendant, of Cecil Road, Leicester, told Birmingham Crown Court he believed "everyone has the right to defend themselves" including the use of force.

He said between November 2023 and July 2024, he was using his social media accounts to "promote Palestinian voices and call out journalists".

Starting his defence on Tuesday, Novsarka, 38, said he was spending about 15 or 16 hours on social media a day following the assault on Israel led by Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, in October 2023.

About 1,200 people were killed and 250 hostages were taken.

In response, Israel launched a military offensive, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Barrister Tom Williams, prosecuting, previously told jurors it will not be their job during the trial to answer "important questions" about the conflict, only to decide if the defendant has invited support for Hamas.

On Tuesday, Novsarka said he was "extremely concerned" for the safety of the people of Palestine due to Israel's response.

Williams, opening the prosecution case earlier this month, put forward social media posts from between November 2023 and July 2024, which he said showed Novsarka supporting Hamas.

However, when asked by his defence barrister, Hossein Zahir KC, if he supported Hamas, Novsarka said "no".

"I do not support Hamas as a group," he said.

"I support the right for all Palestinians to defend themselves.

"I believe that not just Hamas, but every group has the right to defend themselves against Israeli aggression.

"That includes using force."

The court heard on Wednesday Novsarka posted about a cartoon published by Libération, a left-wing newspaper based in Paris on his X account on 11 March 2024, which he later said was "mocking Muslims in Gaza".

Jurors previously heard the cartoon depicted a Muslim man in Gaza chasing two rats and being told by a woman with a child sitting next to her not to do so "before sunset", as Ramadan has begun.

In response to being asked about his interpretation of the cartoon published by the newspaper he said: "I just thought it's a silly thing to post, it's distasteful."

In the post on X the court heard he referred to the 12 people who were killed in the Charlie Hebdo attack nine years before and included a clip of the attack.

The defendant said he thought the Charlie Hebdo attack was "shocking" and added the attackers were doing the "complete opposite" of the teachings of Islam.

When asked if he intended to encourage a similar attack by including the clip of the Charlie Hebdo attack, he said: "Of course not, I'd never do such a thing."

He told jurors he intended to show the cartoon was a "dumb thing" to publish.

The prosecution also previously accused Novsarka of using code words to "celebrate" the actions of Hamas.

Williams previously told jurors Novsarka used the word "resistance" to hide that he was referring to the group.

However, the defendant said he was not referring to the group when using the word.

He added he believed "every person" who "fights back is the resistance".

"Doctors, nurses, journalists, anyone involved in the fight against the genocide is part of the resistance," Novsarka said.

The defendant also said he was "extremely disgusted" with how the "mainstream media" reported on the conflict, and told jurors he used his social media accounts to call out journalists.

"I believe the mainstream media were laying the foundations for the genocide to take place," he said.

Novsarka also told Birmingham Crown Court he had visited Gaza in 2012 and 2013 to provide sporting opportunities for orphaned children and medical supplies for hospitals.

The trial continues.

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