Individual who posted pro-Hamas content online avoids prison sentence for terrorism charge
Ozain Yousef, 23, admitted to a terror charge after expressing support for Hamas and sharing an image of a sniper from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades on social media. Despite this, he was given a suspended 16-week sentence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He must pay £85 in costs, a victims surcharge of £154, and complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Yousef was arrested on Nov. 24, 2023, for supporting a banned organisation by posting extremist material in favor of Hamas on social media.
Judge Daniel Sternberg clarified that his sentence was not a commentary on the Israel-Gaza conflict but emphasized that Hamas is a proscribed terror group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Following Yousef’s arrest, the police found a significant amount of pro-Hamas content on his social media accounts.
Yousef claimed to have been caught up in the toxic environment of social media and expressed remorse for his actions. His defense lawyer stated that he did not fully believe everything he shared online and apologized for any offense caused.
The Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) received over 3,000 public referrals related to the Israel-Hamas conflict since October 2023, with the majority linked to pro-Hamas content. Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley reiterated that supporting terrorist organizations like Hamas could lead to prosecution.
In a separate incident, three women were convicted of a terror offense for displaying images that appeared to support Hamas during a pro-Palestine protest in London. Despite their denial of supporting Hamas, the judge found them guilty of displaying suspicious articles and issued a 12-month conditional discharge.
Overall, Yousef’s case highlights the legal consequences of expressing support for proscribed terror groups like Hamas and the societal impact of sharing extremist content online.
