Man charged with hate crime over protest comments

Hichem Ben-Abdallah was arrested on 18 May, according to West Yorkshire Police

A man has been charged with an anti-Semitic hate crime over comments believed to have been made during a speech at a pro-Palestinian protest in Leeds.

Hichem Ben-Abdallah was charged in relation to a speech made during opposing protests outside Leeds Art Gallery on 11 May, according to West Yorkshire Police.

He was arrested on 18 May after officers had received a number of complaints in relation to comments he was alleged to have made, a force spokesperson said.

The 65-year-old, of Moorland Avenue, Gildersome, was charged on Thursday with racially/religiously aggravated harassment by words or writing and was due to appear before magistrates in Leeds on 17 September, they added.

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