Birmingham Rapper found guilty of sharing a threatening video aimed at Tommy Robinson.
A rapper has been found guilty of sharing a "menacing" video on social media aimed at Tommy Robinson, in which he referenced firearms and made a gun gesture while exclaiming "pow, pow, pow."
Omar Abdirizak, a 31-year-old rapper from Birmingham known as Twista Cheese, uploaded the one-minute TikTok video in August of the previous year. He entered a plea of not guilty to charges of sending a menacing message in violation of the Communications Act 2003 but was convicted following a two-hour trial at Birmingham magistrates court on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Tim Talbot-Webb argued that the video's references to guns and artillery transcended the boundaries of free speech and entered the realm of criminal behavior.
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Robinson, whose actual name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, shared the video on X, where it garnered over 2 million views, asserting that it constituted a murder threat against him due to "lies" propagated by the media and politicians, as presented in court. In his testimony, Abdirizak refuted any claims of making direct threats towards the imprisoned former leader of the English Defence League. The drill rapper stated that his intention in creating the video was to “to put Tommy Robinson in his place” in response to matters related to the riots that occurred last summer.
“I am saying, if you come – self-defence,” he told the court. “Even when I say ‘bam, bam, bam’, this is all entertainment.”
During the one-minute video, which was shown in court, Abdirizak is seen dressed in a patterned hoodie and grey joggers. He declares he has a message for Robinson, adding that he has “Muslims in every corner” and “look at the artillery we’ve got”.
Talbot-Webb noted that the video was released during a period of “when there was indeed disorder aimed at mosques and other institutions”. “The crown sais that by making references to pirates and artillery, any member of the public seeing that could well have been caused apprehension of serious violence,” he said.
“natural meaning” of the video mentioning Robinson and featuring a “gesture as if holding a rifle”
“The crown say that by making references to pirates and artillery … any member of the public seeing that could well have been caused apprehension of serious violence,” he said.
Finding Abdirizak guilty, District Judge Wain said the “natural meaning” of the video mentioning Robinson and featuring a “gesture as if holding a rifle” was a reference to firearms.
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“Having heard the defendant’s evidence I am satisfied that this was the intended meaning of the communication rather than an attempt to promote his music,” the judge said. Abdirizak was awarded conditional bail pending his sentencing on 12 February, as the court raised concerns regarding "hidden disabilities" that require further examination, particularly in relation to mental health matters.
Additionally, he is to be sentenced for the possession of cannabis and a racially aggravated public order offence.