Majid Freeman, a British Muslim activist, was exonerated by Leicester Crown Court in relation to the 2022 Leicester unrest, with the court quashing his earlier conviction for his alleged role in inciting violence.
While pronouncing the verdict on Friday, Judge Robert Brown praised Majid Freeman for building bridges between Hindu and Muslim communities in Leicester, where relations had previously been fractured.
“And it is apparent to us that he has been, on multiple occasions, a bridge-builder, working with the police, to ensure there was harmony in his community,” the court said in praise.
His acquittal came after years of legal battles involving trial, conviction, and retrial. Northampton Magistrates’ Court had convicted him in July 2024 in a public order offence case registered by Leicestershire Police in connection with the Leicester unrest.
In a leaked report, it was earlier revealed that the British government acknowledged the role of Hindutva, an ethno-nationalist and Hindu supremacist ideology, in fanning communal tension during the 2022 Leicester unrest.
During the unrest, Majid’s statements were widely quoted for exposing how Hindutva inspired the violence and for attempting to de-escalate the situation. He had also questioned police inaction in controlling the situation.
Since he was charged in the case, Hindutva forces spearheaded a vilification campaign against Freeman, accusing him as the “Key” perpetrator behind the unrest.
“I stand fully exonerated after long and deeply distressing prosecution by Leicestershire police. More than three years, this case has hung over me and my family causing immense anxiety and strain. No one should have to endure such a prolonged ordeal for standing with their community and working to prevent harm,” Majid said after the verdict, standing outside Leicester Crown Court.
The tensions in the city “were deliberately inflamed by violent Hindutva ideology. promoted by sections of Indian media and imported into diaspora communities in Leicester,” he added.
Azad Ali, an activist with CAGE, a British Muslim human rights organisation, said that instead of curbing Hindutva violence, the police have “victimised Majid and made an example of Muslim communities. In particular why because Majid was exposing their shortcomings.”
“The exoneration of Majid Freeman is a nail on the coffin of Hindutva’s propaganda on 2022 Leicester riot,” reads a statement issued by the United Kingdom-Indian Muslim Council (UK-IMC).
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