Minister tells court she was 'terrified' by the actions of activists

TWO pro-Palestinian activists who accused Pontypridd MP Alex Davies-Jones of supporting genocide relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict have been convicted of harassment.

- CLAIRE HAYHURST & HARRY STEDMAN

Ayeshah Behit, 31, and Hiba Ahmed, 26, were found guilty of the charge against Alex Davies-Jones, Labour MP and a UK justice minister, following a trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Monday.

They had filmed a confrontation with Ms Davies-Jones, who had been campaigning in the village of Treforest, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in the lead-up to the general election, on June 26 last year.

Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring found both defendants guilty of harassment and sentenced them to a conditional discharge and fine.

Giving evidence during the trial, Ms Davies-Jones told the court she was "terrified" after being confronted by the two activists.

As she made her way to the campaign meeting place, she saw Behit and Ahmed with leaflets describing her as a "full-blown supporter of this genocide" - referring to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Ms Davies-Jones said: "They asked me about the ceasefire and why I had abstained. I clarified I hadn't abstained, I wasn’t in the country, I was paired in that vote.

"It was escalating in terms of passion and intensity. We walked off in the opposite direction. We felt scared and intimidated, and we wanted to leave the situation.

"I had a number of young members with me. They already felt uncomfortable, I didn't want them to feel more at risk.