Calls for probe into judge who let parachute image activists at pro-Palestine march walk free

The judge who decided to let three women wearing parachute images at a pro-Palestine march walk free has admitted to liking a social media post branding Israel a”terrorist”state.

Tanweer Ikram is facing calls to be investigated for a conflict of interest after he liked a LinkedIn post calling for a “free Palestine” by a barrister who had previously promoted conspiracy theories claiming that Israel allowed the October 7 attack.

The senior district judge claimed he had liked the post “by mistake” three weeks ago, and was told by the Judicial Office that the matter would not be investigated further.

Downing Street said that it had referred the case to the Attorney General, describing the sentencing decision as “deeply troubling”.

Heba Alhayek, 29, Pauline Ankunda, 26, and Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, were found guilty on Tuesday of an offence under the Terrorism Act after displaying images of paragliders at a protest in central London.

But they were handed 12-month conditional discharges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, after Deputy Senior District Judge Ikram said he had “decided not to punish” them.

The post which was liked by Ikram stated: “Free Free Palestine. To the Israeli terrorist both in the United Kingdom, the United States, and of course Israel you can run, you can bomb but you cannot hide — justice will be coming for you.”

A X user posted a photo of the post liked by Ikram, along with the caption:  “This is Tanweer Ikram, the ‘impartial’ judge who decided not to punish 3 women who were convicted of terrorism offences for displaying images of paragliders, celebrating the Hamas tactics.

“He needs to be investigated since this is a conflict of interest.”

Another person commented: “Fully agree. There is conflict of interest. Tanweer Ikram, by not voluntarily recusing himself, reveals that he cannot be trusted. He needs to be investigated.”

Ikram had liked a post written by barrister Sham Uddin, who is standing to be an independent MP in east London.

Uddin has made a series of anti-Israel posts, including an October 7 conspiracy theory that Israel knowingly allowed the attacks to take place to “expel” Palestinians.

Mark Summers KC, representing Alhayek and Ankunda in court,said police had “mistaken” what they saw and were fed a narrative by partisan social media groups.

He said they were actually displaying a “cartoon parachute” used as a “symbol of peace”.

In his verdict, Judge Ikram said there was nothing to suggest the group were Hamas supporters.

According to social media guidance to the judiciary, judges should “be aware that you can convey information about yourself and your views by … liking posts”.

A spokesperson for the Judicial Office said: “I spoke to the judge in question and he said it was a genuine mistake. He didn’t know he liked the post and deleted the like immediately. This won’t be investigated further.”