Jewish lawyer to face disciplinary tribunal over social media comments

The former director of UK Lawyers for Israel who brought the Al-Quds Day Rally to a halt earlier this year is preparing to defend himself in a disciplinary tribunal in response to messages on social media.

Mark Lewis (pictured), a well-known media lawyer and wheelchair user who recently told the BBC he was making aliyah in response to antisemitism in the UK, is accused of sending “offensive and profane communications” in 2016.

Lewis is believed to have responded to racist messages and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) took the unusual action of saying it “does not condone the actions of any individuals involved in exchanges with Mr Lewis on Twitter”. Lewis faces two charges, including posting “offensive and profane communications towards a third party” on Facebook on 26 May last year and of using his Twitter account to publicly post “offensive and profane communications” between 2015 and 2016, which publicly identified him as a solicitor. Lewis has said: “It is a matter of great principle that one can respond robustly to intimidating racist death threats.”