London: Police have arrested and charged Majid Freeman with "encouragement of terrorism and supporting a proscribed organization", in relation to a case regarding his "significant role" in fueling misinformation and exacerbating tensions during the 2022 Leicester unrest.
"Majid Novsarka, also known as Majid Freeman, 36, of Cecil Road, Leicester, has been charged with encouragement of terrorism and supporting a proscribed organization," said the Leicestershire police. Freeman has been released on bail and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 24.
A self-proclaimed community activist, Freeman played a significant role in fueling misinformation and exacerbating tensions during the 2022 Leicester unrest. Described as a 'radical Islamist', he repeatedly spread dangerous lies and unverified claims about the Leicester violence, the Times of India reported.
The report added that he wrongly claimed that a Muslim boy was attacked by over two dozen Hindus, despite the police saying they had no evidence of such an incident. He alleged that Hindu men had attempted to abduct a Muslim girl, which the police later investigated but said the incident had not occurred as claimed.
The 2022 Leicester unrest was a series of clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities, which began in August-September 2022 following an India-Pakistan cricket match.
