Palestine Trial of Community Activist Majid Freeman Begins Today at Birmingham Crown Court

CAGE calls on media and the public to follow proceedings in what it regards as one of the most significant free speech and Palestine cases to reach a UK court

Birmingham — The trial begins today of Majid Freeman, a British Muslim community activist, hafidh of the Quran, and humanitarian aid worker from Leicester, at Birmingham Crown Court - who dared to express his support for the Palestinian cause and their right to resist illegal occupation. 

Majid faces three charges under the Terrorism Acts arising entirely from posts on his social media accounts about Palestine and Gaza.

Who is Majid Freeman?

Majid Freeman has dedicated more than fifteen years to humanitarian work, both locally and internationally. He has delivered emergency aid to Syria and Gaza, featured in a BBC award-winning documentary on his 2014 aid convoy to Syria, and spent years providing food, shelter and community support to families in Leicester. He is a widely respected figure in his city and in the broader Muslim community across the UK.

A Palestine Case

CAGE regards this trial as a Palestine case. Whatever framing the prosecution chooses to lead with, the central question before the court is whether expressing solidarity with Palestinians - including affirming the right of an occupied and colonised people to resist - can be prosecuted as terrorism under British law.

This case arrives at a charged moment. On 13 February 2026, the High Court ruled that the government's proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group was unlawful and disproportionate - yet the ban technically remains in force while the government appeals, and 523 people were arrested at a Trafalgar Square vigil just nine days ago. The Court of Appeal hearing on that proscription is scheduled for 28 and 29 April, while this trial is ongoing. Growing cross-party parliamentary support for the deproscription of Hamas reflects a broader shift in legal and political opinion on how proscription law is being applied.

Courts and juries have also begun to push back. Natalie Strecker was acquitted in Jersey in December 2025 on near-identical social media charges, with the court finding that affirming the Palestinian right to resist occupation does not constitute an invitation to support terrorism. 6 of The Filton 24 returned zero convictions in February 2026 after over 500 days on remand.

Quote from Anas Mustapha, Head of Public Advocacy, CAGE:

"Majid Freeman is a community activist, a humanitarian, and a man of conscience who refused to be silent about a genocide. Make no mistake , this is a case about criminalising solidarity with Palestine. It asks whether people in Britain are free to express solidarity with an occupied people's right to resist, or whether that expression is now a criminal act."

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Notes to Editors

Proceedings begin today, Monday 20 April. The prosecution is expected to open its case on Wednesday 22 April. Majid Freeman is expected to take the stand on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 April. The trial is estimated to conclude by Tuesday 5 May, subject to jury deliberations.

CAGE is issuing a full media briefing pack. Interviews with CAGE spokespeople, access to Majid Freeman (subject to legal advice), his legal team, and expert legal commentary are available on request.

For further information and interview requests, contact:

Karsen, Press Officer, CAGE karsen@cage.ngo | +44 07546 145930 | press@cage.ngo

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