Rapper who posted video about Tommy Robinson denies sharing ‘false information’

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

A rapper who posted a video online accusing Tommy Robinson of calling on people to attack mosques has appeared in court.

Omar Abdirizak, 30, is charged with conveying information which was known to be false, intending at the time of sending to cause non-trivial psychological or physical harm to a likely audience – an offence under Section 179 of the new Online Safety Act 2023.

The Birmingham rapper, known as Twista Cheese, is alleged to have made the video, which he posted on social media, between August 1 and 10, before it was then shared by Mr Robinson on his X, formerly Twitter, account.

In it, he alleges that Mr Robinson has been “running his mouth, saying ‘we’re going to attack the mosques’”.

Abdirizak appeared in the dock at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday wearing a white long-sleeved top, patterned trousers and holding a copy of the Koran, and pleaded not guilty.

His solicitor claimed that Abdirizak had listened to a podcast which mentioned that Mr Robinson had made that claim and that he had “believed it to be a true fact”.

At the same hearing, Abdirizak pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

District Judge David Wain bailed Abdirizak to appear at the magistrates’ court again on Friday, ordering him not to mention Mr Robinson or the EDL on social media without prior agreement of the court.