A jury at Birmingham Crown Court has failed to reach a verdict in the terrorism trial of pro-Palestine activist and aid worker Majid Freeman, resulting in a hung jury. A retrial has been provisionally scheduled for September 20, 2027.
Freeman, whose full name is Majid Novsarka, had faced charges relating to allegations of encouraging terrorism and supporting a proscribed organisation (Hamas) through social media posts made during Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Prosecutors argued that posts shared on X and Instagram amounted to support for Hamas and encouragement of violent acts, while the defence maintained that Freeman was expressing solidarity with Palestinians and documenting what he viewed as genocide and resistance to occupation.
The outcome follows a closely watched two-week trial that drew significant public attention and became a flashpoint in the wider debate around freedom of speech, Palestine activism and the use of UK terrorism legislation against Muslim activists.
In a statement following the hearing, Freeman welcomed the prospect of a retrial, saying it would once again place the realities of Gaza before a British jury.
“The state exhausted considerable resources trying to prosecute me based on emoji, duas and posts online. And after almost a week of deliberation, the jury could not agree that I was guilty. They could not agree.
“That is not nothing. I welcome the opportunity of a retrial, because it means the evidence of what Israel has done to Gaza – the brutality, the systematic destruction of an entire people – will once again be placed before a jury of the British public. Let them see it again. Let the world be reminded again.”
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And campaign group CAGE International said the state had “exhausted considerable resources” trying to secure a conviction but still failed to persuade the jury.
Anas Mustapha, Head of Public Advocacy at CAGE International, said: “The state threw everything it had at Majid Freeman and a jury of his peers still could not agree he was guilty. That is a profound indication of where the British public stands on the criminalisation of solidarity with Palestine.”
Rival arguments
During the trial, prosecutors claimed Freeman had used his large online following to glorify violence and amplify Hamas messaging. Particular attention was placed on posts referencing the Charlie Hebdo killings, videos linked to Hamas figures, and the use of imagery such as the red triangle symbol associated by prosecutors with Palestinian armed resistance.
The prosecution argued that Freeman was “not a passive observer” but someone actively encouraging others through coded language and emotionally charged messaging online.
At one stage, prosecutors reportedly described his mobile phone as “a weapon” used to spread material capable of inspiring violence.
Freeman’s defence team strongly rejected those claims, arguing that his posts must be understood within the context of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza and the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding there.
Lawyers for the Leicester activist insisted he did not support attacks on civilians or acts of terrorism, but rather supported what they described as the legitimate right of Palestinians to resist occupation and defend themselves.
The defence portrayed Freeman as a long-standing humanitarian worker deeply affected by his experiences delivering aid in Gaza in 2012 and 2013. They highlighted his community work in Leicester, including anti-knife crime campaigns, homelessness initiatives and mediation efforts during periods of communal tension in the city.
Expert testimony during the proceedings also sought to contextualise the language and imagery used in pro-Palestine activism online. Academic Professor Fawaz Gerges reportedly told the court that expressions used by Freeman should be understood within the broader framework of Palestinian resistance and the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which he described as an “open-air prison.”
The trial came only months after Freeman successfully overturned a previous conviction connected to the 2022 Leicester unrest.
In January 2026, judges at Leicester Crown Court quashed his public order conviction after ruling there was insufficient evidence to support it. During that hearing, the court praised Freeman as a “bridge-builder” who had worked to maintain harmony within the community.
Freeman’s supporters argue the terrorism prosecution forms part of a broader trend in which anti-terror legislation
UK proscription of Hamas
The UK remains an outlier in continuing to proscribe Hamas in its entirety, despite growing international engagement with the political wing of the organisation and its de facto governance of Gaza.
The military wing of Hamas, known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was initially proscribed in March 2001 under the Terrorism Act 2000.
In November 2021, the UK government extended this proscription to cover the entirety of Hamas, including its political wing, following a decision by then-Home Secretary Priti Patel.
The government assessed that the distinction previously made between the military and political wings was artificial, as Hamas was deemed a single, complex organisation involved in committing, participating in, preparing for, and promoting terrorism.
This proscription makes it a criminal offense in the UK to:
- Belong to or profess to belong to Hamas
- Invite support for the group
- Express opinions or beliefs supportive of Hamas in a way that is reckless as to whether it encourages others to support the group
- Arrange or assist in arranging meetings to support or further the activities of Hamas
- Wear clothing or display articles in public that arouse reasonable suspicion of membership or support for Hamas
Penalties for these offences can include up to 14 years in prison and/or a fine.
Gaza killing fields
The number of Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza since October 2023 now stands at 72,740 people with another 172,192 people wounded, Wafa news agency is reporting citing medical sources. There are thousands more people missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
The sources reported that Gaza hospitals received the bodies of three people, along with 16 others who were wounded in the last 24 hours.
Since the so-called ceasefire was imposed in October 2025, Israel has killed some 854 people with another 2,453 wounded. There have been 770 bodies recovered from the rubble so far.
Israel has been accused of both a committing war crimes and a genocide following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.
The UN and various human rights organisations have expressed outrage and condemnation of Israel’s actions including the large scale death of civilians, devastation of civilian infrastructure across Gaza and the killing of aid workers and journalists throughout the war.
