Solicitors Regulation Authority confirms investigation into Hamas case lawyer following CAA action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed an investigation into one of the lawyers acting on behalf of Hamas in its application to get de-proscribed in the UK, following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism.
Campaign Against Antisemitism submitted a complaint to the SRA regarding the conduct of Fahad Ansari after our Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit uncovered a plethora of posts from his X account.
Mr Ansari is the Director and Principal Solicitor at Riverway Law, the law firm representing the terrorist group Hamas in a desperate bid to get the group de-proscribed in the UK. The application is being made to the Home Secretary.
According to posts on Mr Ansari’s social media accounts, he seems to find a bulldozer breaching the border fence between Gaza and Israel on 7th October to be “one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time”, hails Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin as a “hero”, and, referring to “the heroic Palestinian resistance”, hopes that “every one of their bullets hit their targets”.
Another post read: “At this point, Israel could literally set up gas chambers for Palestinians during Ramadan and the genocide enablers in the Western media will be shouting ‘What about Hamas?’ and crying antisemitism if anyone draws a comparison with the Holocaust. Make no mistake, if these people were alive in the 40s, they would have sided with the Nazis.”
According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.
Another post read, “Long live the Palestinian resistance,” and “Victory to the intifada.” Intifadas in the past have always been campaigns of terrorist violence, including suicide bombings.
One post read: “Fact: Hamas has never been more popular around the world than it is today. Why is that? Possibly because people understand that it is the only thing that stands between the Western-backed Israeli genocidal army and the complete eradication of the Palestinian people.”
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are pleased that the SRA is investigating Fahad Ansari’s conduct. Judging by what we have uncovered from Mr Ansari’s X account, he appears to view a bulldozer breaching the border fence between Gaza and Israel on 7th October as ‘one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time’, hails Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin as a ‘hero’, and, referring to ‘the heroic Palestinian resistance’, expresses hope that ‘every one of their bullets hit their targets’. This rhetoric is stomach-churning, even if it befits a lawyer who represents Hamas. It is ludicrous that someone with views like these is permitted to practice in the legal profession. If he is found to have breached any of his obligations as a solicitor, the SRA must take firm action.”
