A 25-year-old man has been found guilty of arousing suspicion he was supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation after he wore a Hamas headband at a pro-Palestine rally in London.
Khaled Hajsaad, from Birmingham, attneded the protest on November 25, 2023.
He was spotted wearing a green headband which closely resembled those worn by Hamas.
Hajsaad was arrested in Trafalgar Square and Metropolitan Police officers seized the offensive headband.
Khaled Hajsaad outside the City of London Magistrates' Court
PA
The 25-year-old admitted wearing the headband but denied supporting the proscribed terrorist organisation.
He instead claimed the headband was Saudi Arabian and bore a statement of his faith as a Muslim.
Hajsaad said: "I was supporting Palestine and I was wearing an item of Saudi Arabia.
"This is a Shahada, which is a statement of faith.
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Pro-Palestine protests have taken place since Hamas' attack against Israel on October 7
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"I was wearing it because I am a Muslim and this is my statement of faith."
Hajsaad, described as an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK a year ago, added: "I don't care about (Hamas). I don't support (the group) and I have never supported (them). I came here to live in safety."
The prosecution’s expert in Arabic and Islamic studies told the court that he would not expect to see flags or articles related to Saudi Arabia within the context of a pro-Palestinian march in support of Gaza.
He added that the absence of a sword on the headband would further support the case that it was not an emblem related to Saudi Arabia.
Hajsaad was found guilty of wearing an item of clothing to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation at City of London Magistrates’ Court.
Khaled Hajsaad outside the City of London Magistrates' Court
PA
The 25-year-old will be sentenced on June 21.
Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “By wearing the green headband in the context of a pro-Palestine protest in central London, Khaled Hajsaad aroused suspicion that he was supporting Hamas – a proscribed terrorist organisation.
“Wearing such items in public creates a risk of encouraging others to support Hamas.
“When people break the law – whether by hateful speech, supporting proscribed organisations or by threatening public order – we prosecute swiftly and independently.
“We have already prosecuted a string of offences linked to events in the Middle East and we are working closely with the police to make sure our approach commands public confidence.”
