Man from Leicester appears in court charged with terror offences

36 year old Majid Novsarka is accused of showing support for Hamas

Westminster Magistrates' Court
Author: Ted Hennessey and Nick Warren, PAPublished 24th Jul 2024

A man from Leicester who's accused of being a Hamas supporter has appeared in court charged with terror offences.

Majid Novsarka, also known as Majid Freeman, 36, of Cecil Road, Leicester, stood in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with encouragement of terrorism and supporting a proscribed organisation.

Prosecutors say that on various dates between December 26 of last year and June 20, he expressed an opinion or belief supportive of Hamas, which is a proscribed terror organisation.

The court also heard that on March 11, Novsarka is accused of posting a statement on social media in relation to the 2015 deadly attack on the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, encouraging people to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism.

The defendant, who was arrested on July 9 following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Police East Midlands, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address, and did not enter pleas.

Novsarka was granted conditional bail, and must live at his home address and not post on social media.

He will next appear at the Old Bailey on August 16.

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