INTERVIEW – RAHEEM KASSAM – Fellow at Middle East Forum and Gatestone Institute and author of “No Go Zones” – discussed the free press assault surrounding the jailing of activist Tommy Robinson and explained why worldwide stocks are tumbling because of political turmoil in Italy.
- ITALY: Raheem is currently in Rome. U.S. stocks tumbled on Tuesday as political turbulence in Italy sparked concerns that the newly elected populist government could push country toward eurozone exit. Italy Could Withdraw from EU. Italy could be heading for a euro exit that’s more destabilising than Brexit.
- Raheem organized the Free Tommy Robinson protest over the weekend
- EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court. (Guardian) – Robinson sentenced to 13 months after admitting offence following Facebook broadcast. Tommy Robinson, the founder of the far-right English Defence League, has been jailed for 13 months for contempt of court. The 35-year-old’s sentence can be revealed after a judge lifted reporting restrictions on the case on Tuesday. The case had been widely discussed on social media, where rightwing activists claimed that the restrictions amounted to state censorship. Robinson was arrested on Friday after broadcasting an hour-long video over Facebook from outside Leeds crown court. In the video he made comments that risked causing a trial to collapse.
- Washington Post: Conservative outrage after anti-Muslim campaigner Tommy Robinson secretly jailed in Britain. Donald Trump Jr. compared it to the cause for the American Revolution, and Mike Cernovich said a compilation of deleted news articles about the arrest was “the most terrifying video you’ll see today.” U.S. websites ignored the ban. Conservative outlets and alt-right blogs accused the British media of abetting a coverup. Drudge blasted the arrest across its front page, and 500,000 people signed a “Free Tommy” petition. The movement swelled until hundreds marched in London over the weekend.
