Conservative activist Tommy Robinson has been jailed for 18 months following for contempt of court over claims he has made against a Syrian refugee that was able to successfully sue him. The refugee has claimed that Robinson made libelous statements against him and UK courts ruled that Robinson could not show a documentary or repeat the allegedly libelous claims against the refugee.

According to the UK Independent, Robinson has been jailed for 18 months after he admitted to contempt of court for violating the order to not repeat the alleged libelous statements against Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi. One of these instances included a video documentary produced by Robinson.

Hijazi was involved in a school yard scrap in October 2018 at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Video of the interaction showed a white teen pouring water on Hijazi. The video led to a widespread outcry over racism in the media and reached international audiences.

Robinson's documentary as well as his other statements have argued that the refugee boy at the time was threatening girls at the school and undercover videos of staff in the documentary allege that that refugee boy consistently bullied others, acted out, and misbehaved.

The film aired at a rally over the summer in London, which shows Robinson’s allegations against Hijazi who was able to successfully sue him for libel in 2021. The lawsuit ended with Robinson, whose actual name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, being ordered by the courts to not repeat the claims.

Robinson was detained earlier this year under the "Terrorism Act 2000" act, which allows police in the region to detain those coming through an entry point into the country to “determine whether they may be involved or concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism." 

After being detained in this manner, police can keep someone for six hours where authorities can ask questions and ask for the password of electronic devices. If someone does not comply, they can be charged with a criminal offense. Robinson allegedly did not turn over his phone.  

He was brought into court on Saturday before Mr. Justice Johnson, who sentenced him to 18 months in prison for “flagrant” breaches of the order. Johnson said that Robinson “regards himself as above the law.”

Robinson’s defense lawyer Sasha Wass KC argued that Robinson accepted his culpability in the matter because he “passionately believes in free speech” and possesses an “overwhelming desire that he has to expose the truth.”