Key timeline and developments of the Jamal Hijazi libel case:
‘Silenced’ and HOPE not hate’s campaign for justice
Despite the court explicitly stating that Lennon was to not repeat his libellous claims against Jamal and that doing so could lead to imprisonment, Lennon spent much of 2023 spreading his lies and promoting the film on various podcasts.
For example, on 13 February 2023 he appeared on the Tankz Podcast to discuss the trial, saying: “I made a film that I’m not allowed to show anyone, I get two years in jail if I show anyone. I’ll send it to you,” he said, pointing to the host. He even went on to say, “I’ll send you the video. You can share a little bit of it.”
In late 2022 Tommy had connected with MICE Media, a little-known online NFT/media platform, and it soon became evident he would try to publish Silenced through the company. On 1 April 2023, a new MICE Media edit of Silenced was premiered by Lennon in Copenhagen at a meeting in the Danish Parliament, hosted by the right-wing Danish People’s Party and the anti-Muslim Free Press Society. Lennon clearly knew the screening broke his injunction, saying,
“I’ve been given an injunction that says I get two years in prison. If certain information and truths are shown to the public, what could it be that the British establishment are that terrified of the public?”
On 25 May 2023, the film was finally published online by MICE Media, and Lennon eagerly promoted it on his Telegram channel. This alone is a breach of the injunction, but it was not an isolated incident.
HOPE not hate’s investigation
Between early April and mid-June 2023, HOPE not hate identified at least 37 posts on his Telegram and Gettr accounts promoting it. Our investigation LINK also proves that Lennon collaborated with MICE Media to release the film and provided new material for it.
Following the release, Lennon appeared on podcasts and was interviewed by multiple media outlets. While he has repeatedly claimed to have no knowledge of, or involvement in, the film’s release, he praised the airing of it and repeated his libellous claims about Jamal, again breaking the injunction.
Realising that the evidence is overwhelmingly against him, it seems Lennon has doubled down in an attempt to save face with his supporters. On 27 July 2024, Tommy screened the entire Silenced film at Trafalgar Square during a demonstration that was attended by up to 30,000 people. The days of pretending the film was leaked without his knowledge were over.
“Now you can take me to court,” he screamed from the stage: “They think they are putting me on trial, I just put you on trial to the world. […] Death, prison or glory, we will never submit to your lies. They may plan to take me to court and put me in jail. […] Nearly a million people have watched that film so far. Share it with everyone you know. They want to send me to jail, the world will know I told the truth. Your gagging order only works if we allow you to gag us.”
After hundreds of hours of research and a huge campaign by the HOPE not hate team, Lennon is finally standing trial for breaking the injunction and could face up to four years in prison. Our team was able to pinpoint times and locations for when Lennon broke the injunction.
Tommy’s tour around the world in 80 lies
Paris, France – February 2023
Lennon gives a speech at MICE Media’s NFT conference in Paris. He talks about how excited he is about the online platform that will later release his documentary, Silenced, which repeats libellous claims against the Syrian teeanger.
Copenhagen, Denmark – 1 April 2024
Lennon premiers a new MICE Media version of Silenced in Copenhagen, at a meeting in the Danish Parliament, hosted by the Danish People’s Party and The Free Press Society. Tommy references his injunction, showing that he knows he’s breaking it.
Spain – Early April
Lennon has a family holiday in Spain before starting a journey to the Bahamas. As there are no direct flights, and changing in Miami was not an option as he’s banned from entering the US, he first flies to Cuba.
Havana, Cuba – 14-18th April
While in Cuba, Lennon films a new clip for Silenced, while sitting outside the four star Grand Aston hotel, in which he begs supporters for money
Freeport, Bahamas – April
Lennon makes his way to Freeport, to meet with MICE Media’s CEO Bryn Davis. While in the Bahamas, Tommy records a 12-second clip, which is later posted on the MICE Media Discord service, in which he says: “Are you ready to go to war? We are about to set the internet on fire! Disruption like no one has even seen coming. It’s going to be a busy month!”
South East Spain – May/June
Since the release of the film and aware of the possibility of his arrest for contempt of court, Lennon has been hiding in a luxury, 6-bedroom, 7-bathroom mansion in south-eastern Spain worth over £1.3. Million. He’s flown a series of friends and fellow far-right activists to keep him company during his self-imposed exile.
Joe Mulhall, Director of Research at HOPE not hate said:
“Stephen Lennon has always thought that he is above the law and that he can operate by his own rules. He has made a career out of lying and trying to get away with it, all the while begging his supporters for money. Lennon was fully aware of the consequences of violating the injunction, which is why he lied about his involvement in the film’s release. Once he had run out of options and justice loomed, he threw caution to the wind and publicly broke it in front of thousands of people.
We want to see Lennon held accountable for his harmful, libellous lies. But most importantly, we want justice for Jamal.”
Contact:
hopenothate.org.uk | @hopenothate | [email protected] | 0207 952 1183
HOPE not hate builds hope and counters the politics of hate through research, campaigning and community engagement. We focus on the organised far right, the communities who are susceptible to them and the issues and policies which give rise to them.
A dismal turnout is one of several concerns facing leader Paul Golding after another poor national event, as we identify a puzzling discrepancy around the…
