Tommy Robinson loses High Court case to Syrian schoolboy in viral bullying vid

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English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson has lost a High Court libel case brought by Syrian schoolboy Jamal Hijazi, who was filmed being attacked at his West Yorkshire school.

Jamal Hijazi, who was recorded being bullied in the playground at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield in October 2018.

Shortly after the video went viral, Robinson claimed in two Facebook videos, which were viewed by nearly one million people, that Jamal was "not innocent and he violently attacks young English girls in his school".

The 38-year-old also claimed Jamal "beat a girl black and blue" and "threatened to stab" another boy at his school, allegations the teenager denies.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, July 22, Mr Justice Nicklin ruled in Jamal's favour and granted him £100,000 in damages.

Catrin Evans QC, for Jamal, previously said that Robinson's comments led to the teenager "facing death threats and extremist agitation" and that he should receive damages of between £150,000 and £190,000.

During the trial, Ms Evans described Mr Robinson as "a well-known extreme-right advocate" with an "anti-Muslim agenda" who used social media to spread his views.

She added that Mr Robinson's videos "turned Jamal into the aggressor and the bully into a righteous white knight".

However, Mr Robinson maintained he was an independent journalist during the trial, telling the court: "The media simply had zero interest in the other side of this story, the uncomfortable truth."

A hearing will follow Thursday's judgment to consider the consequences of the ruling.

• Courts

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