Bob Stewart, a Member of Parliament, has been successful in his appeal to have his conviction of racially aggravated public order offence quashed. Stewart, who represents Beckenham constituency in London, was convicted last year after telling activist Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei to “go back to Bahrain” during an argument outside the Foreign Office in December 2022. The incident occurred during an event hosted by the Bahrain Embassy.
The Southwark Crown Court’s appeal on Friday heard testimony from Alwadaei, who alleged that he felt “dehumanised” by Stewart’s comment. However, the court stated that Alwadaei’s response during the incident did not indicate that he was distressed or upset by Stewart’s comment. In an official statement, Mr Justice Bennathan emphasised that “Mr Alwadaei continued to address him [Stewart] in similar terms, and at a similar pitch, would scarcely suggest to an observer that he was caused any upset, alarm, or distress.”
The UK court’s decision overturning Stewart’s conviction raises important questions about the context in which racially aggravated public order offences are prosecuted. Stewart, a former British army officer, has maintained his innocence throughout the trial. He resigned from the Conservative Party after he was convicted and sentenced for the offence.
The verdict of the Southwark Crown Court now clears the way for Bob Stewart to resume his duties as a Member of Parliament for Beckenham constituency. The case has generated heated debate on social media, with many people expressing their views on whether or not Stewart’s comment constituted a racially motivated attack on Alwadaei. The decision to quash the conviction is a significant victory for Mr Stewart, who has been a staunch advocate for UK-Bahrain relations
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