Danish Hizb-ut-Tahrir spokesman convicted

Elias Ramadan Lamrabet was sentenced to 60 days of probation by the Copenhagen City Court for inciting war and the destruction of Israel during a May 2021 demonstration. At the event, titled ‘Palestine Calls for Liberation’ outside the Egyptian embassy in Copenhagen, Lamrabet called on the Islamic community to end what is referred to as Israel. Following his speech, attendees chanted for a resolution through jihad. Lamrabet claimed his call was for military powers and not civilians, intending military intervention to end occupation. However, the court could not deduce that his call was solely for military forces. While charged with inciting crimes against Jews, the court did not find evidence for this, stating the call was for the state of Israel’s destruction, not against Jews specifically. The lengthy proceedings resulted in a conditional sentence, and Lamrabet immediately appealed for acquittal in the high court.