Pro-Palestine Activist Faces Terrorism Trial Over Social Media Activity
A court has heard that a pro-Palestine activist described as "violent" expressed a desire to "establish Islamic State in Britain" and shared online videos providing instructions on using grenades to kill Israeli soldiers. Feras Al-Jayoosi, aged 38, is currently on trial at Winchester Crown Court, facing three counts of terrorism related to posts made on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, during 2022.
Allegations of Disseminating Terrorist Publications
Prosecutors allege that Al-Jayoosi utilized an account under the handle 'Jihad4Palestine' to propagate what they term "violent Islamic ideology." This included sharing images of figures linked to the September 11 attacks. During police interviews, Al-Jayoosi reportedly stated he was "on the fence" regarding al-Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden. He has entered a plea of not guilty to all three charges of disseminating terrorist publications.
Described in court proceedings as an "adherent of violent Islamic ideology," Al-Jayoosi is accused of commenting on posts concerning the views on Jewish people held by various world leaders, such as Tony Blair and George Bush. Additionally, he allegedly commented "Allah is the greatest" on a post following the stabbing of author Salman Rushdie in August 2022.
Social Media Content Under Scrutiny
His social media biography reportedly read: 'Arm the Palestinian resistance. Establish Islamic State in Britain. Allahu Akbar. Abolish the monarchy and Free Palestine. #Caliphate #NotMyKing.' Earlier in March 2022, he was using an account with the handle 'JoeBloggs22,' which featured a banner image containing an emblem of the Al Aqsa Martyrs, a group known for attacks on Israeli citizens including suicide bombings, alongside the Islamic Shahada.
Among the content retweeted by Al-Jayoosi was a 75-minute instructional video detailing the use of explosives, sniper rifles, and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). A second video, titled 'advanced knife fighting,' included a message urging Palestinians and Muslims to employ the techniques shown to "kill Israeli settlers and soldiers. Kill them all and send photos. May Allah Bless You."
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Al-Jayoosi was arrested at his residence in Swindon, Wiltshire, in October 2022. During the arrest, authorities discovered shirts bearing imagery of the Caucasus Emirate, a group designated as terrorists by the UK government. As the three-week trial commenced, Al-Jayoosi appeared in court wearing a pink shirt and clear glasses.
The court was informed that Al-Jayoosi has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), conditions which reportedly impact his daily functioning and ability to understand people and facial expressions. To accommodate these challenges, he has been granted additional breaks during proceedings to decompress and process the court activities.
Prosecution's Case
Prosecutor Leo Seelig outlined the case, stating: "This case concerns allegations of disseminating terrorist publications. We are concerned with July 2022 and the period before and after. In general terms, a terrorist publication means something that is likely to be understood as an encouragement or useful for actions of terrorism. That includes anything that glorifies such acts."
Seelig emphasized that the context involves "the use or threat of action for the purpose of advancing religious, racial, and ideological force against a person or property which is designed to influence the government or intimidate the public." He summarized the allegations by noting that the defendant "posted instructional videos about how to carry an RPG and about knife fighting techniques and tells his audience to use this video to help them kill Israeli settlers and soldiers."
The prosecution contends that Al-Jayoosi's social media activity included hashtags such as #mujahideen and #Iraqiresistance, along with mentions of Ansar al-Sunnah, a UK-prescribed terrorist group known for combatting US troops in Iraq. Seelig highlighted that one video depicted a young child dressed in black, with their face covered, firing a weapon and practicing grenade throws.
Defense and Personal Context
Al-Jayoosi's defense argues that he did not intend to encourage others and was not reckless in his actions, claiming he used social media to relieve distress. However, the prosecution asserts that his conditions do not explain desires to "destroy the Jews or kill Israeli soldiers and settlers," and that they have no bearing on the principal issues of the case.
During interviews, Al-Jayoosi explained that he used the term "Jihad" in its literal meaning of struggle and supported Palestinians' right to resist illegal occupation. He clarified that his references to "Islamic State" were not akin to ISIS but rather envisioned a peaceful Islamic caliphate similar to historical examples like that in Spain. In September 2022, he tweeted the results of a poll favoring an Islamic State in Britain, comparing it to the Andalusian caliphate that lasted for centuries.
When questioned about posting a prayer referencing figures such as Ariel Sharon, David Ben Gurion, Tony Blair, George Bush, and Tommy Robinson, Al-Jayoosi stated he did not believe the videos would be used for the purposes described. The court heard that both his sister and brother attempted to exert sensible influence over him regarding his inflammatory views.
The trial continues as further evidence and testimonies are presented.
