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LONDON: Anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson faces a possible jail sentence after failing to seem at a Excessive Court docket listening to on Tuesday to be questioned about his funds after shedding a libel case.
The English Defence League founder, whose actual identify is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was as a result of seem in courtroom over unpaid authorized payments after he was efficiently sued by Syrian refugee scholar Jamal Hijazi final 12 months.
A video of Hijazi, who was 15 on the time, being assaulted at a faculty within the north of England, the place his household had settled after fleeing Syria, went viral in October 2018.
Robinson claimed in two subsequent Fb movies that Hijazi was “not harmless” and claimed he “violently attacked younger English ladies in his college.”
Hijazi sued Robinson for libel in July 2021, the place a Excessive Court docket choose later dominated Robinson’s claims to be unfaithful and ordered him to pay the scholar GBP100,000 ($132,632) in damages and greater than GBP43,000 in authorized prices.
After his victory, Hijazi vowed to make use of the cash to determine a charity for younger individuals who have been bullied.
The previous EDL chief declared chapter 4 months later, a submitting which has since been discharged, with Hijazi’s legal professionals efficiently making use of for an order requiring Robinson to return to courtroom to face questioning over his funds.
A Excessive Court docket choose will determine whether or not Robinson is in contempt of courtroom.
Decide John Dagnall advised Tuesday’s listening to that Robinson knew “completely properly” that he was required to attend courtroom for questioning, as he had beforehand emailed the courtroom asking for his listening to to be adjourned.
“It appears to me at first sight a basic scenario the place he has determined to not attend,” Dagnall mentioned, including that every one he might do was refer Robinson’s non-attendance to a Excessive Court docket choose.
“They might, if she or he chooses to take action, maintain Mr. Yaxley-Lennon in contempt.”
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