The far-right leader who berates Muslims on the street

Deputy leader of Britain First, Jayda Fransen arrives at Luton Magistrates Court last year

Donald Trump today shared three videos posted by the deputy leader of far-right group Britain First in another anti-Muslim tirade.  

Jayda Fransen, whose Twitter feed is littered with videos and pictures condemning Islam, is sitting on a charge of using threatening and abusive language at a rally in Belfast.

She is also expected to appear on religiously aggravated harassment charges next month. 

Fransen is renowned for peddling her party’s anti-Muslim agenda, and she was clearly delighted Trump decided to share her views.

Using capital letters, and talking about herself in the third person, she tweeted: ‘The President of the United States Donald Trump has retweeted three of deputy leader Jayda Fransen’s Twitter videos.

‘Donald Trump himself has retweeted these videos and has around 44million followers. 

‘God bless you, Trump. God bless America. OCS.’

OCS is an acronym used by the party which stands for Onwards Christian Soldiers. 

Fransen, formerly of the English Defence League, regularly marches through cities and towns in the UK holding Christian crosses aloft, which provokes angry reactions from Muslim members of the community. 

During one of Britain First’s so-called Christian Patrols in Luton back in November 2016, Fransen was convicted of religiously aggravated harassment after she harassed a Muslim mother-of-four because she was wearing a hijab.

She was fined almost £2,000 as the court heard she told a mother-of-four that Muslim men force women to cover up to avoid being raped ‘because they cannot control their sexual urges’, adding ‘that’s why they are coming into my country raping women across the continent’.

Fransen denied all charges, accusing the courts of being ‘absurd’, and engaging in ‘a really clear display of Islamic appeasement’. 

‘The reason I said them was because from everything I have studied, I understand them to be true,’ Fransen said in her defence. 

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, retweeted this video allegedly showing a Muslim destroying a statue of the Virgin Mary

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, retweeted this video allegedly showing a Muslim destroying a statue of the Virgin Mary

Trump, in a succession of retweets, also tweeted this video supposedly showing a Muslim migrant beating up a Dutch boy on crutches

Trump, in a succession of retweets, also tweeted this video supposedly showing a Muslim migrant beating up a Dutch boy on crutches

The most extreme video Donald Trump shared was this one, reportedly showing an Islamist mob pushing a teenage boy off a roof

The most extreme video Donald Trump shared was this one, reportedly showing an Islamist mob pushing a teenage boy off a roof

.Britain First Leader Paul Golding and others including Deputy Leader Jayda Fransen during far-right demonstration in London in April

.Britain First Leader Paul Golding and others including Deputy Leader Jayda Fransen during far-right demonstration in London in April

She is deputy to Paul Golding, who was spared jail earlier this month after being found guilty of assault. 

He is also facing three charges of religiously aggravated harassment in relation to the trial of a gang of men who raped a teenager above a Ramsgate takeaway.

Golding is set for a three day trial next month, alongside Fransen. 

Jayda Fransen was born in London in 1986 and claims to have practised and studied law for many years before founding a recruitment consultancy.

In 2014, she was elected deputy leader of Britain First and two years later she took temporary control over the party when Golding was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for breaching a court order banning him from entering a mosque or encouraging others to do so in England and Wales. 

Jayda Fransen was born in London in 1986 and claims to have practised and studied law for many years before founding a recruitment consultancy

Jayda Fransen was born in London in 1986 and claims to have practised and studied law for many years before founding a recruitment consultancy

The party’s mission statement is issued on its website, and it reads: ‘Britain First is a patriotic political party and street movement that opposes and fights the many injustices that are routinely inflicted on the British people.

‘Our policies are pro-British, our approach is no-nonsense and our principles are not open to compromise.

‘We love our people, our nation, our heritage and culture and will defend them at all times and no matter what odds we face.

‘The Britain First movement is not just a normal political group, we are a patriotic resistance and ‘frontline’ for our long suffering people.’

Fransen, 31, from Penge, south east London, is facing the court action in Northern Ireland over a speech she made at an anti-terrorism demonstration in the city on August 6.

She was arrested by Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers on Saturday in Bromley, south east London and taken to Belfast for questioning.

She has been bailed to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on December 14.

Describing her arrest, she said: ‘I was escorted in a police van with four officers up to Liverpool to catch a ferry. Bearing in mind, I was arrested at quarter to four, our ferry was 10.30 at night and it arrived here in Belfast at 6.30 this morning so it’s been quite a jaunt.’

She said police questioned her for around three to four hours, accusing her of being ‘anti-Islamic’, and released her after she was charged.

‘This all relates to a speech that I gave at an event over here where I was invited as a guest speaker, the Northern Ireland Against Terrorism on the 6 August,’ she added.

Britain First hold a demonstration in Rochdale, opposed by anti-fascist groups. Britain First said they were highlighting concerns about child sexual exploitation in the town

Britain First hold a demonstration in Rochdale, opposed by anti-fascist groups. Britain First said they were highlighting concerns about child sexual exploitation in the town

Britain First leader Paul Golding broke the news to his supporters in a Twitter video on Saturday.

He said: ‘A large group of plain clothes police detectives from Belfast of all places jumped out of nowhere and have arrested Jayda.

‘What have they arrested her for? Both of us addressed, made a speech, at a public demonstration outside Belfast City Hall all the way back in August.

‘The detective I spoke to told me she is being flown to Belfast tonight to be interrogated.

‘It’s absolutely ridiculous – this is non-stop with me and Jayda, non-bloody stop.’

He said his colleague had been arrested for ‘no bloody reason’.

Ms Fransen and Mr Golding were in Belfast on August 6 for a demonstration by around 50 people calling themselves Northern Ireland Against Terrorism, which took place on the same day as a republican march organised by the Anti-Internment League to mark the use of detention without trial by the British Army during the height of the Troubles in 1971.

Britain First's Paul Golding and Jayda Fransenin pose up next to a sign for Schengen

Britain First’s Paul Golding and Jayda Fransenin pose up next to a sign for Schengen

Jayda Fransen posing with her thumbs down in Brussels in front of a piece of graffiti that reads 'Welcome refugees' 

Jayda Fransen posing with her thumbs down in Brussels in front of a piece of graffiti that reads ‘Welcome refugees’ 

The pair have been charged by Kent Police after allegedly distributing leaflets as four men stood trial for gang rape. They are pictured here at a Britain First demonstration this year

The pair have been charged by Kent Police after allegedly distributing leaflets as four men stood trial for gang rape. They are pictured here at a Britain First demonstration this year

Trump shared three videos posted by Fransen. 

The first was a clip supposedly showing a Muslim migrant beating up a Dutch boy on crutches. 

Seconds later, retweeted a video showing what she claims to be a Muslim man destroying a statue of the Virgin Mary. 

And the third video posted in quick succession to his 43.6million followers was by far the most disturbing – a video showing an alleged Islamic group throwing a teenager off a roof before beating him to death.

Trump then posted his own tweets, first accusing CNN of fake news, then congratulating his own policies and their impact on the stock market. 

The issue was raised in the House of Commons this afternoon by Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee Yvette Cooper MP. 

Talking to the Speaker of the House John Bercow, she said: ‘I understand the woman in question has already been convicted of hate crime in thsi coutnry. 

‘And on that basis, given the significance and the seriousness of having the President of the United States of America giving her such a huge platform, does he not think it would be approptiate for us to hear some word of condemnation from the Home Secretary or the Foreign Secretary?’

There was no response from the Cabinet.

Labour MP for Tottenham also weighed in on the debate, saying: ‘Let that sink in. 

‘The President of the United States is promoting a fascist, racist, extremist hate group whose leaders have been arrested and convicted. 

‘He is no ally or friend of ours. Donald Trump, you are not welcome in my country and my city.’

He also raised the issue that Thomas Mair shouted ‘Britain First’ before murdering his colleague Jo Cox on the eve of the Brexit vote. 

‘Do not forget that the man who murdered Jo Cox shouted “Britain First”,’ he said. 

‘Trump has gone beyond the pale today.’

Mrs Cox’s widower Brendan Cox said: ‘Trump has legitimised the far right in his own country, now he’s trying to do it in ours. 

‘Spreading hatred has consequences and the President should be ashamed of himself.’ 

Britain First previously any denied involvement in the attack on Mrs Cox, and there is no suggestion that Mair was influenced by or in any way involved with the group. 

‘That’s why they are coming into my country raping women across the continent’: Jayda Fransen’s vile abuse hurled at a hijab-wearing mother in front of her four children 

Jayda Fransen the deputy leader of Britain First an extremist political party

Jayda Fransen the deputy leader of Britain First an extremist political party

The deputy leader of far-right group Britain First was found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment after hurling abuse at a Muslim woman wearing a hijab in front of her four young children.

Jayda Fransen, 30, was fined nearly £2,000 at Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates’ Court for wearing a political uniform and shouting at Sumayyah Sharpe during a so-called Christian Patrol of Bury Park in Luton on Saturday January 23, 2016.

Fransen admitted telling Ms Sharpe that Muslim men force women to cover up to avoid being raped ‘because they cannot control their sexual urges’, adding ‘that’s why they are coming into my country raping women across the continent’.

But she denied the words were intended to be offensive.

‘The reason I said them was because from everything I have studied, I understand them to be true,’ Fransen said in her defence.

District Judge Carolyn Mellanby said she believed the group had gone to the area ‘looking for trouble’ – but said Ms Sharpe had been mistaken as an ‘easy target’.

‘I have no doubt the words used towards her (Ms Sharpe), in her expression, represented everything against her and what she believes in,’ she said.

‘In other words, offensive, insulting, abusive and, in my judgment, intended to cause offence and alarm and distress to her religion.’

Around 20 Britain First members took part in the ‘patrol’ of Bury Park, distributing branded newspapers which had a front page reading ‘World War Three has begun – Islam against the world’, the court heard.

Ms Sharpe, who was shopping with her four young children at the time, refused a newspaper from the group.

Giving evidence, she said it was at this point that Fransen, from South Norwood, south London, crossed the road and confronted her.

The incident was captured on camera by members of Britain First.

Ms Sharpe told the court: ‘She came across, shouting at me, saying ‘Why are you covered?’, and she said that quite a few times. I told her it was my choice that I cover.

‘I then turned to the camera and I said, ‘Film me, I’m British, I’m a British Muslim. It’s my choice to wear this clothing and it’s my right’.’

She added: ‘I called her a slapper, I admit, and I told her to piss off because I was so angry at that point that she had done that in front of my children.’

In video footage shown to court, Fransen was seen brandishing a white cross as she told Ms Sharpe that Muslim men made women cover themselves so that they were not raped.

Following the incident, Ms Sharpe said she had to go home and explain the meaning of the word rape to her young children.

She also told the court her four-year-old son was now scared to leave the house in case they ran into the group.

District Judge Mellanby described Fransen’s behaviour as ‘shocking’ and commended Ms Sharpe for the ‘eloquent’ account of events she had provided to the court.

Footage of the incident with Ms Sharpe was edited and included in a video which was posted on the party’s YouTube channel.

District Judge Mellanby said she was aware that as a result, Ms Sharpe had been branded a ‘terrorist’ on some websites.

Fransen, who was elected deputy leader of Britain First in autumn 2014, was also found guilty of wearing a political uniform in a public place.

The deputy leader was dressed in a green coat with a Britain First lapel and black beanie hat bearing the party’s emblem during the patrol, which District Judge Mellanby ruled was ‘similar attire’ to the rest of the group and signified her association to the party.

Paul Golding (right) and Jayda Fransen (left), leaders of the far-right organisation Britain First talk during a march in central London on April 1, 2017

Paul Golding (right) and Jayda Fransen (left), leaders of the far-right organisation Britain First talk during a march in central London on April 1, 2017

Fransen was fined £1,000 for the religiously aggravated harassment and £200 for wearing a political uniform.

She was also ordered to pay £620 in costs – as well as a £100 surcharge – and issued with a two-year restraining order to prevent her from contacting Ms Sharpe or engaging in intimidating behaviour towards her.

A further charge of failure to surrender to police bail was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Following the hearing, a Britain First supporter was arrested on suspicion of common assault after an alleged altercation with a journalist.

Fransen, who is described by Britain First as a ‘devout Christian’, condemned the court’s verdict in a video posted to the group’s Facebook page.

She said: ‘It was just absolutely absurd in the court. It was just a really clear display of Islamic appeasement. That’s all that we’ve just seen.’

 

 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk