A supporter of Shockat Adam, the new independent anti-Israel MP for Leicester South, has been charged with terrorism offences.
A statement by Leicestershire Police confirmed that “Majid Novsarka, also known as Majid Freeman … has been charged with encouragement of terrorism and supporting a proscribed organisation.
“He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 24 July.”
Jonathan Ashworth, formerly a key member of Sir Keir Starmer’s top team who was defeated by Shockat Adam in Leicester South, tweeted: “this is deeply disturbing & alarming. It’s said this individual is a key campaigner for Leic South’s new MP Shockat Adam Patel.”
He added that his successor “must now condemn this individual & condemn those organising demonstrations defending him. The safety of people must always come first.”
Lord Walney, a government adviser on political violence and disruption, said the incident was disturbing, adding: “The conduct of new MP Shockat Adam Patel and apparent supporters during the Leicester South campaign leaves him with serious questions to answer.”
Freeman was an active participant of the campaign to defeat Ashworth in Leicester South during the general election. He posted on Twitter that “A Vote For Labour Is A Vote For Genocide – Enough is Enough!”
He also posted a video of himself confronting Ashworth over his voting record in Parliament on the conflict in Gaza. Freeman said Ashworth had the “blood of Palestinian men, women and children” on his hands.
Ashworth is heard responding “if you want the bullies and the loudmouths to win, you’ve got to come out and you’ve got to vote against this”.
Shockat Adam shared the video, reposted by a different outlet, and mocked Ashworth’s claims that he felt intimidated: “feeling the pressure when he cannot answer a simple question on why he abstained from the Gaza ceasefire vote and instead starts complaining of feeling intimidated & calls the questioner a bully. Poor Jon”
He went on, “Obviously when you are too ashamed of the pro-genocide position of your party to defend it you will resort to spurious allegations of stalking, harassment and intimidation.”
Freeman celebrated Adam’s shock victory and re-posted his video with Ashworth along with the caption “Remember this from the other week? @JonAshworth will be regretting this right now. The best man @ShockatAdam won and has now replaced him in Leicester”
Adam was one of five independent MPs elected who received the backing of influential campaign organisation The Muslim Vote (TMV), a group set up to drive Muslims away from Labour and towards more radical, anti-Israel candidates.
In his victory speech, the new Leicester South MP, where around one third of voters are Muslim, pulled out a Palestinian Keffiyeh and declared “this is for the people of Gaza.”
Both Adam and Freeman have been contacted for comment.
