Three women deny showing pictures in support of Hamas

The three women appeared in court earlier and were granted unconditional bail

Three women have denied showing pictures in support of Hamas during a march in October.

Heba Alhayek, 29, Pauline Ankunda, 26, and Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, were charged for inviting support for a proscribed organisation.

They were alleged to have carried or displayed "an image displaying a paraglider" at a pro-Palestinian protest in Whitehall on 14 October.

There was a "clear" association between the image and Hamas, the court heard.

Ms Alhayek and Ms Ankunda, both from Crystal Palace, south-east London, were each charged on 14 November.

And Ms Taiwo, from Croydon, south London, was charged with the same offence on Thursday.

The three appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday as co-defendants and were granted unconditional bail ahead of a two-day trial due to start on 12 February 2024.

Prosecutor Mark Luckett said: "The prosecution say that there is a clear and unique association between the image of a paraglider and the Hamas terrorist attack a week earlier."

He added that wearing an item of clothing displaying an image associated with the Hamas attacks "glorifies the actions of the group by celebrating the unique, successful tactic used by them".

Militants from the group, classed as a terror organisation by the UK government, used paragliders to enter Israel from Gaza on 7 October before killing more than 1,000 Israelis.

The offence they are each accused of falls under the Terrorism Act 2000.

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