Tory MP Bob Stewart found guilty of racial offense for telling protester to 'go back to Bahrain'
Bob Stewart has been found guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence after telling an activist to «go back to Bahrain» during a confrontation. The veteran MP, who had vehemently denied any racist intent, was fined £600 and instructed to pay an additional £835 in legal costs.
Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring, while acknowledging that Stewart may not be inherently racist, emphasized that the guilty verdict stood regardless. «Good men can do bad things,» said.
Pressure is now mounting on Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who did not take any disciplinary action against Stewart, to strip the veteran Tory MP of the Conservative Party whip following the the court's decision.
The activist Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei expressed his desire for immediate action from the Conservative Party in light of the verdict, highlighting the need for accountability.
During the trial, Stewart, 74, had emotionally stated that he was deeply affected by the trial, citing a lifelong commitment to defending minorities and individuals of diverse backgrounds. The court heard that the altercation, which took place outside Lancaster House in December, was sparked when Stewart accused Alwadaei of taking money from the UK, prompting Stewart to tell him to «go back to Bahrain» and to «shut up.»
Parliamentary records revealed that Stewart had partaken a trip to Bahrain, funded by the country's ministry of foreign affairs, shortly before the incident.
Stewart argued that his remarks were a response to feeling provoked and embarrassed by Alwadaei's allegations. He maintained that his comment to «go back to Bahrain» was an invitation for Alwadaei to make his point in his home country.
«Go away, I hate you.
You make a lot of fuss. Go back to Bahrain,» the video
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