Woman not guilty of expression of support for Hamas

A woman who told a crowd that Hamas is "fighting for freedom" has been found not guilty of expressing support for a proscribed organisation.

Kwabena Devonish, 27, of Pentrebane, Cardiff, denied a charge of expressing an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Hamas, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000.

Bristol Crown Court heard she attended a march in Cardiff in November 2023 and addressed a crowd gathered at Ty William Morgan in Central Square, telling them she was "sick of being told to condemn Hamas".

A jury acquitted Devonish, who was arrested in January 2024 after a video of her speech was posted on social media, of the single charge against her.

Supporters of the defendant cheered and clapped in the public gallery after the unanimous verdict was delivered by the jury on Tuesday afternoon following a two-day trial at the court.

During the trial, a video was played of Devonish speaking at the march, which took place on 11 November and was attended by about 500 people.

She told the crowd: "I would never condemn the resistance of Palestinians because their resistance is due to the occupation.

"So, if you want to talk about violence, if you want to talk about atrocities, then point the finger to the state of Israel.

"I am sick of being told to condemn Hamas, when Hamas are fighting for freedom, Hamas are fighting for the people."

Giving evidence, Devonish said she was politically active and associated with the groups Stand Up To Racism and Black Lives Matter in Cardiff.

She denied supporting Hamas and said she had been referring to them as "the most well-known representation of Palestinian resistance".

"I don't support Hamas, I support the liberation of the Palestinian people," she told the jury.

Judge Picton had earlier urged jurors that their deliberations should be a "cool headed, objective consideration of the evidence".

In legal directions before the jury retired to consider the verdict, he said they had to be sure that Devonish's comments were "objectively supportive of Hamas".

He said they had to be sure Devonish knew she was expressing a supportive belief of the proscribed group, and there was a risk that a person hearing her speech would be encouraged to support the organisation.

Representing Devonish, Kate O'Raghallaigh told the jury that Devonish had been charged with a terror offence "because she uttered 21 words".

"All she did was, really, refer to the fact that they are fighting a war, which they are," O'Raghallaigh said.