Judges in Britain are becoming increasingly political, Nigel Farage has claimed.
The GB News presenter criticised a judge’s decision “not to punish” three people found guilty of showing support for Hamas.
Heba Alhayek, 29, and Pauline Ankunda, 26, and Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, were handed 12-month conditional discharges at Westminster Magistrates' Court after being accused of displaying images of paragliders at a pro-Palestinian march.
Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram was since found to have ‘liked’ a pro-Palestine post on social media.
Nigel Farage has criticised a decision 'not to punish' three found guilty of terror offences
PA / GB NEWS
While the judge has since spoken out, saying it was a “genuine mistake”, Farage says the case raises “serious questions”.
“I found it extraordinary that the judge had effectively overruled the jury and given them non-custodial sentences, and basically said, ‘look, they didn't really believe in all of this’,” he said.
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“This is completely the opposite to what the jury had just decided.
“It turns out that one of the three women had been given asylum status in Britain, on the basis that her family were critics of Hamas - you couldn't invent some of this stuff.
“Another one of them has been told she doesn't need to pay the £400 costs because she hasn't yet been given leave to remain and therefore can't claim the £400 on benefits.
“If that wasn't bad enough, let us get to the judge, Tanweer Ikran, who liked a post on LinkedIn that said ‘Free Free Palestine.’
A judge who sentenced Hamas supports 'liked' a pro-Palestine post
GB NEWS
Nigel Farage says the judicial system is growing increasingly political
GB NEWS
“It seems to me pretty extraordinary on the face of it, that somebody who was sitting as a judge, and in particular, sitting as a judge in this particular case, liked that sort of comment on LinkedIn.
“I think this raises very, very serious questions about his impartiality.
“One of the things I don't like about America is the politicisation of its judiciary. I thought here in this country, we were free of it.
“It would appear with every year that goes by they become more and more political.”
The trio stood trial after widespread condemnation of their images.
The photos were spread on social media after the demonstration in October, which came a week after Hamas militants used paraglider to enter Israel in a terror attack that killed over 1,000 Israelis.
Alhayek and Ankunda were accused of attaching images of paraglider to their backs, while the third defendant was said to have put one on a placard handle.
The Metropolitan Police launched an appeal on social media in a bid to find the perpetrators before Alhayek and Ankunda handed themselves in to Croydon Police Station, the court heard.
Prosecutor Brett Weaver told the court: "The displaying of these images could be viewed as celebrating the use of the paragliders tactic."
Mark Summers KC, representing Alhayek and Ankunda, said the police had “mistaken” what they saw and were simply following the narrative put out by partisan social media factions.