Woman told crowd Hamas is ‘fighting for freedom’, court hears
Kwabena Devonish was arrested in January 2024 after a video of the speech was posted on social media
A woman accused of expressing support for Hamas told a crowd the proscribed organisation is “fighting for freedom”, a court has heard.
On Monday, Bristol Crown Court heard Kwabena Devonish, 27, is alleged to have said she was “sick” of “being told to condemn Hamas”.
Devonish is accused of having expressed an opinion or belief in support of the proscribed organisation during a speech in November 2023.
The court heard Devonish had attended a march in Cardiff and addressed a crowd gathered at Ty William Morgan in Central Square.
Devonish was arrested in January 2024 after a video of the speech was posted on social media.
In a video played to the jury, Devonish said: “I would never condemn the resistance of Palestinians because their resistance is due to the occupation.
“So, if you want to talk about violence, if you want to talk about atrocities, then point the finger to the state of Israel.
“I am sick of being told to condemn Hamas, when Hamas are fighting for freedom, Hamas are fighting for the people.”
The court heard the march took place on November 11 2023 and was attended by about 500 people.
Diana Wilson, prosecuting, said: “There is no dispute this is Miss Devonish (in the video) and she is addressing a crowd, likely at the end of the march.”
Devonish told the court she was “very politically active” and was associated with the groups Stand Up To Racism and Black Lives Matter in Cardiff.
Asked if she supported Hamas, she said: “Not personally, no.”
She said: “Hamas is the most well-known representation of Palestinian resistance.
“That’s not to say that I’m supportive of Hamas as an entity, I was merely referring to the most popular understanding of Palestinian resistance.
“I don’t support Hamas, I support the liberation of the Palestinian people.”
Devonish, of Pentrebane, Cardiff, is charged with expressing an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Hamas, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000.
The trial continues.
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