A rapper has landed in hot water for posting what the court deemed a “menacing” video aimed squarely at Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who many might recognize by his handle, Tommy Robinson. The clip, which quickly went viral, featured the rapper mimicking firearms and shouting, “pow, pow, pow!” Quite the spectacle, huh?
Omar Abdirizak, a 31-year-old artist based in Birmingham, rebutted accusations of transmitting a menacing message, per the Communications Act of 2003. Yet, despite his denials, Birmingham Magistrates’ Court found him guilty after a brisk two-hour trial. In a courtroom reveal, it emerged that the video, which captured hearts and minds to the tune of over two million views, was reshared by Yaxley-Lennon. He claimed it was an outright threat on his life, fueled by what he describes as “media and political fibs.”
Prosecutor Tim Talbot-Webb was crystal clear, arguing that the way Abdirizak, who goes by the stage name Twista Cheese, bandied about terms like “guns” and “artillery” crossed a line from art to something more sinister. This wasn’t just rap rhetoric; it was a foray into illegality.
For his part, Abdirizak stuck to his guns—figuratively speaking—and dismissed any notion that he directly threatened Yaxley-Lennon. The drill rapper asserted the video was meant to boost his music on YouTube and TikTok, where he courts some 20,000 followers, with a side aim of taking Tommy Robinson down a peg or two.
His creative spark? A heated discussion he caught between broadcaster Piers Morgan and influencer Andrew Tate, centered around last summer’s uproarious riots. Little wonder it sparked such controversy. Adorned in a flashy hoodie and grey joggers, Abdirizak went on to dub himself a “Somali pirate,” promising Yaxley-Lennon that he had “Muslims in every corner” and daring him to “look at the artillery we’ve got.”
Abdirizak later told the court all this talk of “bam, bam, bam” was just showbiz. Make-believe. Entertainment. Talk about dramatic flair.
Yet Talbot-Webb wasn’t buying it. He reminded the court that the tension-laden video surfaced during a period marked by attacks on mosques and other sensitive sites. “The Crown asserts that by invoking pirates and weaponry, Abdirizak spun a tale that could stoke fear of grave violence in the public,” Tim Talbot-Webb declared.
This musically inclined provocateur was granted conditional bail but faces further sentencing on February 12. The court identified “hidden disabilities,” like potential mental health concerns, that warranted deeper scrutiny. Alongside his musical misadventure, Abdirizak will also face sentencing on charges of cannabis possession and an offense with racial undertones under public order regulations.
There you have it: a courtroom drama tying together themes of free speech, entertainment, and societal tension. Surreal, isn’t it, how quickly the world of social media can transform into a judicial battleground?
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
