Listen to the article
Far-right Activist Tommy Robinson Corrected Over Jerusalem Church Claims
British far-right activist Tommy Robinson has drawn widespread criticism for spreading misleading information about Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre during his recent visit to Israel.
In a video shared on social media Sunday, Robinson—whose real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon—claimed visitors would likely be unable to access the holy site if it weren’t “under the control of the state of Israel.” The church is revered in Christianity as the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and tomb.
However, Robinson’s assertions were quickly challenged by historians, religious experts, and social media users who pointed out a significant historical oversight in his comments. For nearly a millennium, the church has been protected under Muslim rule, with its 20-centimeter iron key entrusted to two Palestinian Muslim families.
The Nuseibeh and Joudeh families have served as custodians of the church since 1187, when Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi (Saladin) captured Jerusalem from the Crusaders. This arrangement established neutral guardianship over the sacred space, which is shared by multiple Christian denominations and continues to this day—a fact Robinson failed to mention.
“The Church you visited, Tommy? Its keys are held by two Muslim families, the Nuseibehs and Joudehs, guardians since Saladin’s time in 1187,” journalist Hala Jaber noted on social media. “Muslims protected Christianity’s holiest site for 900 years.”
Other users emphasized that this historical arrangement symbolizes centuries of Muslim-Christian coexistence in Jerusalem, with one pointing out: “Who preserved those Christian locations for centuries? Israel’s only 75 years old.”
Robinson’s comments about Christian freedom in the region also drew criticism. In his video, he claimed, “We probably wouldn’t have freedom of religion for Christians here if it was in the hands of a caliphate… or Palestine or the Palestinian Authority or Hamas.”
Palestinian Christian leaders have presented a markedly different narrative. Last year, Palestinian Reverend Munther Isaac spoke of “very dark days, very difficult days” for Palestinian Christians since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in October 2023.
Critics also highlighted recent attacks on Christian sites in the region. The 5th-century Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza, one of Christianity’s oldest sites, was damaged during an Israeli strike near the Ahli Baptist Hospital in October 2023. In July, Israeli settlers reportedly burned the historic Church of Saint George in the Christian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank, along with its adjoining graveyard.
Robinson’s visit to Israel was arranged at the invitation of Israel’s diaspora minister, Amichai Chikli, who described him as a “courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam.” The timing of the visit has raised eyebrows, as Robinson’s verdict on a terrorism-related charge in the UK has been delayed.
The controversial activist faces accusations of refusing to provide police officers with the passcode to unlock his phone when stopped at the Channel Tunnel in July 2023—an offense under Britain’s counter-terrorism legislation. His legal troubles extend back to 2003, with previous convictions for various offenses including assault, fraud, drug possession, and breaching court orders.
Robinson’s Israel visit has been condemned by numerous organizations, including those supportive of Israel such as the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which stated, “Tommy Robinson is a thug who represents the very worst of Britain.”
For his part, Robinson described his visit as a “fact-finding mission” amid what he called a “major propaganda campaign against the State of Israel and against Jews.” He denied that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and indicated plans to tour a Palestinian refugee camp and the occupied West Bank, which he referred to using the Israeli designation “Judea and Samaria” rather than its internationally recognized name.
Verify This Yourself
Use these professional tools to fact-check and investigate claims independently
Reverse Image Search
Check if this image has been used elsewhere or in different contexts
Ask Our AI About This Claim
Get instant answers with web-powered AI analysis
Related Fact-Checks
See what other fact-checkers have said about similar claims
Want More Verification Tools?
Access our full suite of professional disinformation monitoring and investigation tools
7 Comments
This seems like a textbook example of how misinformation can spread, especially when amplified by public figures with large followings. It’s important that the public remains vigilant and cross-checks claims, even from those positioned as ‘authorities’.
Robinson’s claims about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are simply false. The historical record is clear – this sacred site has been guarded by Palestinian Muslim families for centuries. Spreading misinformation like this is unethical and dangerous.
Absolutely right. Fact-checking and calling out such blatant falsehoods is crucial, especially when they come from influential voices. We need to remain vigilant against the spread of misinformation, no matter the source.
While Robinson may have his own agenda, the historical facts about the church’s guardianship are well-documented. It’s concerning to see someone in the public eye promote such misleading narratives, especially around a site of deep religious significance.
Agreed. Responsible reporting and commentary should focus on the facts, not political grandstanding. Distorting history to fit a particular ideology only serves to sow more division.
It’s disappointing to see someone with a public platform make such easily disproven claims about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Responsible discourse requires acknowledging the well-documented historical facts, not promoting partisan narratives.
This seems like a clear case of misinformation by Robinson. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been under the custodianship of Palestinian Muslim families for centuries, long before Israel’s existence. Spreading such false claims is irresponsible and damaging.