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A supporter of the new independent MP for Leicester South has been charged with encouraging a “Charlie Hebdo-style” attack, among a series of social media posts that allegedly glorified violence.
Majid Novsarka, also known as Majid Freeman, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, three weeks after Shockat Adam’s surprise victory over Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth in a campaign that focused heavily on the conflict in Gaza.
Prosecutors accused Freeman, 36, of inducing people to “commit, prepare or instigate” acts of terrorism and also of expressing support for Hamas, which the UK government has designated as a proscribed organisation.
Freeman, of Leicester, spoke only to confirm his identity and did not enter a plea to the two charges.
Birgitte Hagem, for the prosecution, claimed he had expressed support for the targeting of Israeli soldiers and described the alleged offences as “serious”. She said Freeman had in the region of 50,000 followers on social media.
Freeman was part of the campaign by Adam to unseat Ashworth, who had been Labour’s shadow paymaster general and had been expected to receive a senior job in Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
Adam was one of four independent candidates who won seats in the general election earlier this month after campaigning on the Gaza conflict in areas with a significant number of Muslim voters.
Freeman was arrested, interviewed and charged on July 9 following what prosecutors said had been a six-month investigation by police into his social media activity.
Prosecutors accused Freeman of making a statement on social media in relation to the 2015 assault on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that suggested a similar attack.
Freeman was granted conditional bail. His case was referred to the Old Bailey, where he is due to appear for another hearing next month.
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