A woman used social media posts to invite support towards proscribed terrorist organisations, prosecutors have told a court.
The trial of Natalie Strecker, 50, who has denied two counts of inviting support for Hamas and Hezbollah has started at Jersey's Royal Court.
The prosecution said in a series of social media posts from 20 June to 11 October 2024, Mrs Strecker invited support for the groups, which are both banned organisations under Jersey's Terrorism Law 2002.
Crown advocate Luke Sette also used WhatsApp messages and voice notes sent by Mrs Strecker to argue she had invited support for Hamas and Hezbollah. The trial continues.
Mr Sette opened the prosecution's case by saying the case was not about political issues in Palestine or "silencing those campaigning about what's been called a genocide in Gaza".
However, the prosecution went through posts by Mrs Strecker on social media platforms X and TikTok to argue she had invited support for Hamas and Hezbollah.
In one post on X brought up in court, the defendant allegedly said: "As we witness the genocide of Palestinians with no intervention by what appears an inherently racist international community and as Israel has been bombing civilians in Lebanon alongside strikes in Syria, I believe Hezbollah maybe Palestine's last hope."
The prosecution showed another video posted on X on 9 October last year in which the court was told Mrs Strecker described Hamas as "the resistance".
The court also heard in an interview with the police after her arrest, Mrs Strecker was asked if she thought Hamas were a terrorist organisation.
She replied: "I think they have undertaken terrorist acts, but they have legitimate grievances.
"Does that mean I support them? No."
The prosecution also played WhatsApp messages and voice notes Mrs Strecker had allegedly sent friends.
As one voice note was played in court, Mrs Strecker broke down in tears.
Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to [email protected].
Related internet links
LATEST POSTS
- 1
FDA official discusses potential link between COVID-19 vaccines and pediatric deaths - 2Mysterious bright blue cosmic blasts triggered by black holes shredding stars, scientists say. 'It's definitely not just an exploding star.'
- 3Netflix's 'Lord of the Flies' show blends 'Adolescence' and 'Yellowjackets'
- 4Over 250,000 cases of shredded cheese recalled over possible metal fragments
- 5Latvia seeks emergency UN meeting over Russian missile attack on Lviv
- Machado ‘presented’ her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump
- Ukrainian drones hit all three Baltic States − did Russia redirect them?
- How did humans evolve, and will we evolve more?
- After harsh winter, Ukrainians find joy in releasing bats rescued from war
- Poll: 62% of Americans would oppose U.S. military action in Greenland
- Iconic iceberg turns blue, on verge of totally disintegrating, NASA says
- Radiated Tortoise Faces Rapid Decline in Madagascar
- South Carolina's measles outbreak reaches 434 cases
- The Best 15 Applications for Efficiency and Association
