Case Profile: Majid Freeman

Summary

Well known in his home city of Leicester, and the broader activist community, Majid is a British Muslim, hafidh of the Quran and charity aid worker. He has long served local and international humanitarian causes, and uses his online platforms to raise awareness of the plight of those suffering persecution and harm. 

During the notorious Hindutva riots in Leicester 2022, Majid was active in protecting the Leicester community from vigilante violence, including a young Hindu man who was under imminent physical threat. This individual thanked Majid publicly for his intervention on Sky News for saving his life. These actions, as well as social media posts criticising the instigators of the riots, were thwarted into charges of a “racially aggravated public order offence”, issued to Majid after he voluntarily attended a police station to make himself known to the authorities in 2023. Though false accusations of assaulting a police officer were dropped during Majid’s trial, he was found guilty of a public order offence and he is due to be sentenced in September 2024. 

Under the shadow of impending sentencing, Majid did not cease in his efforts to spearhead community initiatives in Leicester, helping to uplift those facing social deprivation and financial hardship locally.  When the genocide in Gaza broke out in 2023, Majid felt compelled to use his public profile and online reach to raise awareness of the catastrophic death toll and targetting of civilianss,war crimes, destruction of civil infrastructure and repeated breach of all rules-based order. 

Owing to this, Majid was arrested once again in July of 2024 and accused of committing offences including “support” of a proscribed organisation, namely Hamas, as a result of his posts that documented and routinely reported on the Gaza genocide. His trial is estimated to begin in 2025. Now Majid, once again, stands to answer for his activism on issues of global justice and state oppression. 

Who is Majid Freeman?

Majid Freeman was born and raised in Leicester. A British Muslim of Indian heritage,  Majid grew up witnessing the struggles of those around him in his local community. He developed an early interest in youth and community work and was instrumental in launching and supporting a variety of social initiatives, aimed at improving the lives of local residents. 

His work with local organisations helped provide food, shelter, and essential services to the homeless, refugees, and many underprivileged families in Leicester.

His charitable endeavours were not limited to his local vicinity however, and over the last 15 years Majid spent considerable time travelling on aid convoys to countries ravaged by  humanitarian and man-made disasters. His emergency relief efforts have seen him risk his own personal safety to travel to deliver aid relief to those caught in active conflict zones.

Whilst in the UK, Majid has spent his time fundraising for various UK charities, collecting significant donations from the community for numerous humanitarian causes. He has also used his social media accounts to raise awareness of both local and global issues, speaking out against injustice and giving a voice to the oppressed. As a result of his activism, never shying away from casting light on the critical issues, Majid’s social media following grew considerably in recent years. Alongside this,  he became a regular face at protests and a well known voice on social platforms such as X and Instagram.

Syria and Palestine charity work

In 2012, after seeing the plight of the children in Gaza, Majid decided to embark on a trip to Palestine as part of the “Games 2 Gaza” Summer Camp. This charitable initiative was designed to provide recreational activities and emotional support to the children of Gaza, a besieged strip of land ravaged by decades of oppression, war and settler-colonial repression. Majid spent time amongst the displaced people of Gaza and developed strong ties to the children in the camps, many of whom he kept in touch with on his return, and whose health and wellbeing became of paramount importance to him.

This trip was seminal in propelling Majid to not only continue in his activism for Palestine, but also to dedicate more of his time to expanding his charity work. Majid would take every opportunity to get involved and help make a tangible and sustainable impact on those in desperate need both in the UK and across the world.

In 2014, Majid embarked on a life-changing mission - travelling to Syria on an aid convoy alongside journalist Catrin Nye. This remarkable journey, documented by BBC, later became an award-winning documentary that highlighted the efforts of ordinary people making extraordinary differences in times of crisis.

Despite the dangers and physical challenges, Majid's resolve never wavered. His efforts, along with those of his companions, provided essential supplies and medical aid to countless Syrians affected by the ongoing conflict.

Catrin Nye's documentary captured the physical journey and also the emotional and human aspects of the mission. It showcased Majid's unwavering commitment to helping others, his interactions with the Syrian people, and the profound impact of their stories on him. The documentary received critical acclaim for its powerful portrayal of humanity amidst adversity.

You can listen to the documentary “A Road Trip to War” here. 

Local efforts and community work

Through his ability to inspire the local community and  create meaningful impact, Majid  initiated several community engagement programmes, including organising and overseeing charity runs, gathering people for community dinners, and running online charity campaigns.

Understanding the importance of nurturing the next generation, Majid also focused on youth engagement. He organised workshops, mentorship programs, and sports activities to provide positive outlets and opportunities for young people. These initiatives aimed to inspire and empower the youth, fostering a sense of responsibility and community involvement.

Activism and arrest

In August and September 2022, civil unrest and rioting erupted in Leicester and ethnic tensions rose following provocations from Hindutva-aligned mobs. 

Majid attended a number of counter demonstrations to protect Muslim homes and businesses, and liaised with the police to help calm community tensions. While at one of these marches, Majid was accused of making an offensive statement and charged with a public order offence - legislation used widely and regularly since October 2023, to target those involved in protesting. He was convicted in 2024, following a number of adjournments to the trial and is due to be sentenced soon. Majid maintains that his intention was never to cause alarm or distress, and was in fact differentiating between those who were peaceful and those engaging in violent protest. Furthermore, Majid was credited with protecting a Hindu man attending the protest, who was at clear risk of harm.

While this was ongoing, Majd continued to speak out on social media about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza following October 7th. He was arrested in July 2024 and charged with two offences: “support of a proscribed organisation” (namely Hamas), under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, and “encouragement of terrorism” under section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 as a result of his social media activity.

As legal proceedings have been triggered, no further comment can be made on the particulars of the charges.

Call to action

• Attend Majid's Old Baily hearing on Friday 16 August 2024, 12:30pm, Court Room 9.
• *To follow and support Majid’s campaign visit: *www.solidaritywithmajid.com