Three protesters have appeared in a British court and pleaded not guilty to terrorism offences after displaying allegedly pro-Hamas imagery at a London demonstration, Reuters reports.
Heba Alhayek, 29, Pauline Ankunda, 26, and Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with displaying an article at an Oct 14 protest which would arouse reasonable suspicion they supported Hamas.
The trio each entered not-guilty pleas to one count under the Terrorism Act and will stand trial at the same court in February.
Prosecutor Mark Luckett said there was a “clear and unique association between the image of a paraglider”, which some Hamas fighters used in the deadly attack on Israel.
He added that displaying an item associated with the Hamas attacks, particularly at a pro-Palestinian demonstration, “glorifies the actions of the group by celebrating the unique, successful tactic used by them”.
