Latest news with #Silenced
Int'l Business Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Far-Right Activist Thanks Elon Musk After Being Released From Prison: 'Without X No One Would Have Saw the Truth'
British far-right figure Tommy Robinson thanked Elon Musk after walking out of prison on parole Tuesday, crediting Musk's platform X with helping spread his side of the story about a libel case that landed him behind bars. Robinson—whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon—was serving an 18-month sentence for contempt of court after repeatedly violating a court order prohibiting him from repeating libelous claims about a Syrian refugee, Jamal Hijazi, the BBC reported. In 2018, Robinson falsely accused Hijazi of violent bullying, prompting online abuse and forcing the teenager's family to relocate. Hijazi later won a £100,000 defamation suit against Robinson in 2021. Robinson was released early after the UK High Court accepted arguments from his legal team that he had shown a commitment to follow the injunction going forward. The judge cited a "change in attitude," despite Robinson appearing to show no remorse. Outside the prison, Robinson streamed a live broadcast on X, thanking Musk directly. His documentary "Silenced," which repeats the false claims, was shared widely on the platform. "I have to say a 'thank you' to Elon Musk because without X, if we didn't have X, everyone would just think I lied. No one would've got any other narrative. Fortunately, I think 167 million people saw the truth," Robinson said. BREAKING: Tommy Robinson has just been released from prison, and the first thing he did was thank Elon Musk for allowing free speech on X. — TaraBull (@TaraBull808) May 27, 2025 Musk had previously posted questioning why Robinson was imprisoned, calling for his release. Meanwhile, Robinson says he plans to organize a major rally in London this September and release more films. Free Tommy Robinson!@TRobinsonNewEra — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 2, 2025 Originally published on Latin Times
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
What is Tommy Robinson's real name and how does he look like after getting out of prison?
Image credits: Getty Images Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, popularly known as Tommy Robinson was released from the HMP Woodhill, Buckinghamshire on Tuesday after his 18-month sentence was cut back at the High Court by four months. Yaxley-Lennon was scheduled to be released on July 26 but had to apply to the High Court to purge his contempt order. Now, the far-right activist has had a complete makeover of appearances that seems to have shocked many. Read along to find out how he looks now! Who is Tommy Robinson? Image credits: Getty Images Tommy Robinson is one of the most popular far-right activists and anti-Islam campaigners in the UK. Robinson, who also created far-right and Islamophobic organisations, had been serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court since October 2024 when he admitted 10 breaches of an injunction which prohibited him from repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel. The solicitor general issued two contempt claims against him with the first being that he "knowingly" breached the order on four occasions. One of these occasions included having "published, caused, authorised or procured" a film called 'Silenced' in May 2023, which contains the libellous allegations. The film was pinned at the top of Robinson's X profile. He also repeated the claims in three interviews between February and June 2023. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The second claim, issued in August 2024 concerned six further breaches including playing the film at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London in the summer of 2024. The injunction was issued after Jamal Hijazi, a then-schoolboy who was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018 sued Yaxley-Lennon with a libel case. This was because after a clip of the incident went viral, Yaxley-Lennon made false claims about Hijazi on Facebook. What is Tommy Robinson's real name? Image credits: Getty Images Tommy Robinson was born Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon on November 27, 1982. He took on the pseudonym to hide his identity and past criminal history including a conviction for assaulting an off-duty police officer in a drunken argument. The connection between his real and current name was uncovered by the Searchlight magazine in 2010. The name has been taken from Tommy Robinson, a member of the Luton Town MIGSs, a football hooligan crew that follows Luton Town. How does Tommy Robinson look now? Image credits: Getty Images In the ruling on Tuesday, Mr Justice Johnson said that while there was an "absence of contrition or remorse" from Yaxley-Lennon, he had shown "a change in attitude" since he was sentenced. 'He has given an assurance that he will comply with the injunction in the future [and] that he has no intention of breaching it again,' said the judge. After his release, he was filmed speaking on his social media channel on X for around 20 minutes. The 42-year-old who was earlier recognised by a clean-shaven face with stylish clothes and a military-style haircut now looked completely unrecognisable. Robinson now has longer hair, and a bushy beard and was seen donning a black Adidas t-shirt along with a rosary around the neck that also had a cross on it. His body also appeared to have changed by becoming more leaner than before. While Robinson may have been released from prison for now, if he breaches the injunction again he could be jailed for up to two years, revealed Mr Justice Johnson.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Tommy Robinson Thanks Elon Musk as He Walks Free From Prison
The British far-right activist Tommy Robinson—an alias for his real name, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon—thanked Elon Musk as he walked free from prison on parole after a judge granted him early release. Robinson, 42, was partway through an 18-month jail sentence for violating a court order barring him from repeating libelous allegations against a teenage Syrian refugee, whom he had falsely accused of being a violent bully in school. He made a documentary film titled "Silenced" about the boy and the legal consequences Robinson faced for repeating his claims, which he shared on X, formerly Twitter, owned by the billionaire Musk. "I feel good," Robinson, whose hair and beard had grown long, told supporters in a live stream posted to his X page. "I have to say a thank you to Elon Musk, because without X, if we didn't have X, everyone would just think I lied. No one would have got any other narrative," Robinson said. "These attempts at censorship, to silence, to cancel people, it hasn't worked. You've attempted to lock up the truth. And that truth has been echoed around the entire globe." Musk has expressed support for Robinson, calling for him to be freed and saying he was imprisoned "for telling the truth". Robinson's lawyers had earlier told the U.K. High Court that he has shown a "commitment" to comply with the order, and as a result, Justice Jeremy Johnson granted the application to have his sentence reduced. Yaxley-Lennon had shown a "change in attitude" since he was sentenced, Johnson said, while noting the "absence of contrition or remorse." "He has given an assurance that he will comply with the injunction in the future, that he has no intention of breaching it again, and that he is aware of the consequences of what would happen if he breached the injunction again," the judge said. Robinson admitted in court last October that he was in contempt of court for violating a 2021 injunction by giving interviews in a podcast and shown on YouTube, and sharing the "Silenced" documentary, including at a rally in London's Trafalgar Square. He had been ordered not to repeat false allegations that he made in 2018 that Jamal Hijazi was a violent thug who bullied and threatened other students at a school in West Yorkshire in northern England. Videos he made about Hijazi led to abuse being directed at the boy, who dropped out of school and his family had to leave their home. Hijazi successfully sued for libel in London's High Court in July 2021 and was awarded £100,000 ($130,000) in damages and his court costs. In the past, Yaxley-Lennon has been jailed for assault, mortgage fraud and contempt of court. He founded the nationalist street protest group the English Defence League (EDL) in 2009. Even after the group faded from view around 2013, he remained one of the most influential far-right figures in Britain and can still draw large crowds to the streets. He has also captured global attention through social media, including support from the U.S. right. This is a developing article. More information will be added soon. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press. Related Articles Elon Musk Makes Major Push in Europe to Boost German, British Far-RightProminent British Far-right Activist Tommy Robinson Begs Donald Trump for Asylum in U.S.: 'I Need Evacuation From This Country'The British Have Made Throwing Milkshakes at the Far-Right a ThingOxford Union Invites Steve Bannon to Address Students After Forced Cancellation of German Far-right Party Event 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Right-wing, anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson released early from prison: Why was his jail term controversial?
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, after being released from jail (Photo: X) Far-right activist Tommy Robinson was released early from prison on Tuesday after a high court judge reduced his sentence for contempt of court by four months. Robinson's real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. He was serving an 18-month jail term for breaching a court order that barred him from repeating false allegations about a Syrian refugee. The 42-year-old left HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire on Tuesday, after the court accepted that he had shown a 'change in attitude' and taken steps to comply with the injunction. In October 2024, Robinson was sentenced to 18 months—14 months as punishment and four months as a coercive measure to push him to follow a 2021 injunction. That injunction followed a successful libel case by Jamal Hijazi, a schoolboy Robinson falsely accused online of attacking girls, despite a viral video in 2018 showing Hijazi being assaulted. — TRobinsonNewEra (@TRobinsonNewEra) Although the sentencing judge noted Robinson showed 'no remorse or contrition', Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson ruled last week that the coercive part of the sentence had served its purpose. After the release, Robinson appeared visibly changed, with longer hair and a beard. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo In a video shared on his X account, he gave an assurance that he would not repeat the allegations. 'He has given an assurance that he will comply with the injunction in the future, that he has no intention of breaching it again,' said Justice Johnson. 'I consider it appropriate to grant the application.' The Solicitor General brought two contempt cases against Robinson after he ignored the high court's order. The first was in June 2023 and focused on Robinson promoting a film called Silenced, which included defamatory claims. It was also pinned to the top of his X profile and shared in interviews. The second was filed in August and concerned Robinson playing the film at a rally in Trafalgar Square and included six further breaches. In total, he admitted to ten breaches of the injunction. The court heard Robinson's behaviour had led to a campaign of abuse against Hijazi and forced the teenager's family to move house for their safety, reports the Independent. Despite previously fleeing the country to avoid legal consequences, Robinson returned and was taken into custody in October 2024. Robinson's legal team argued that he had removed much of the offending content and no longer intended to defy the injunction. The judge accepted this, but warned that any future breaches could land him back in prison for up to two years. Contempt of court, though classified as a civil offence, can still lead to criminal penalties such as imprisonment. It typically involves behaviour that disrupts the legal process, like breaching reporting restrictions or sharing material that could affect active cases. In Robinson's case, the offences stemmed from defying a legal reporting ban, rather than any direct attempt to influence the outcome of a trial.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tommy Robinson walks free from prison, says: ‘I have to say thank you to Elon Musk, because without Twitter…'
British far-right activist Tommy Robinson walked free on parole earlier today after a UK judge granted his early release from an 18-month sentence for contempt of court . Upon release, Robinson credited tech billionaire Elon Musk and the platform for enabling him to share his version of events. 'I have to say a thank you to Elon Musk, because without X, if we didn't have X, everyone would just think I lied. No one would have got any other narrative," he said during a livestream to his followers. "These attempts at censorship, to silence, to cancel people, it hasn't worked. You've attempted to lock up the truth. And that truth has been echoed around the entire globe," he added. Why was Tommy Robinson jailed Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was jailed for violating a court order prohibiting him from repeating libelous claims about a Syrian refugee, Jamal Hijazi . He was sent to jail in October 2024 for contempt of court after admitting that he broke a legal order. The 42-year-old had accused Hijazi of being a violent bully—allegations a court deemed false. He later featured the claims in a documentary titled Silenced, which he shared on X (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk. Musk has previously expressed support for Robinson, saying he was jailed 'for telling the truth' and calling for his release. Tommy Robinson gets early release because of 'change in attitude' Justice Jeremy Johnson granted Robinson's early release, citing a 'change in attitude' though with "absence of contrition or remorse." "He has given an assurance that he will comply with the injunction in the future, that he has no intention of breaching it again, and that he is aware of the consequences of what would happen if he breached the injunction again," the judge said. Robinson admitted in October to breaching the injunction by promoting the Silenced film and discussing the case in media interviews and public rallies. His previous videos about Hijazi reportedly led to widespread harassment of the boy, who dropped out of school and relocated with his family. A 2021 libel case awarded Hijazi £100,000 in damages. A repeat offender, Robinson has previously served time for assault, mortgage fraud, and contempt of court. He remains a polarizing figure in Britain's far-right circles and retains a sizable following both in the UK and abroad. His legal team has assured that he would comply with the original court order moving forward. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
