Other video evidence also played in court showed Hikmet repeatedly shouting “F*** you” at the protesters. He claimed he had used the phrase mistakenly.
“When I said f*** you to that woman, what I meant was damn you,” Hikmet said. “Before I came to court, I did not know the difference between these two words,” he added.
Hikmet, who wore a black suit and tie and black trainers to the court, alleged that the protesters had said “nasty things”, spat on him and called him a “son of a b*tch,” which made him “angry” as his mother had passed away.
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Hikmet said he had gone to the leisure centre for prayers after a 12-hour shift, not specifically to attend the memorial for the late Iranian president. He claimed he only learned of Raisi’s death upon entering the building and asking fellow worshipers about the protest outside.
However, the magistrate found Hikmet’s evidence “not credible”, while Mahroo’s account was “compellingly supported” by video and medical evidence.
At one point, when the court was played a video of the assault, the magistrate paused the footage at a frame showing Hikmet standing over Mahroo with his arms spread. When asked what he was doing, Hikmet said, “I was asking her to get up at that point. She had long legs. She was kicking with her legs. I was trying to tell her to get up and go, then someone pushed me from behind. I don’t know who that was.”
The magistrate pointed out that nobody could be seen pushing him from behind in the video.
The court heard that Mahroo had gone to hospital on the day of the assault with pain in her jaw and loose teeth. She said she had lost seven teeth as a result of the assault and, unable to afford treatment in the UK, travelled to Georgia for dental care.
The magistrate ruled this constituted “actual bodily harm”.
Recalling Mahroo’s testimony, which she gave in October, the magistrate said she had been at the protest “to show the Iranian people that she was not sad” about Raisi’s death. She was among a group of protesters playing music and waving flags.
He said that “she was called over to the fence" and was told by Hikmet “we will f*** you”.
“This made her feel threatened,” the magistrate said. He added that Mahroo reported falling to the ground before being kicked “very hard” in the leg and then in the face by Hikmet.
“She had pain in her tooth and was taken to hospital.”
“We find that you did use words that were threatening and abusive, especially in the aggressive manner in which they were said,” the magistrate told Hikmet.
Hikmet, who is of Iraqi origin and holds a German passport, has lived in the UK for over a decade, including the last year in Colindale, was told: “This is a very serious crime that you have committed.”
The case has been referred to the Crown Court for sentencing, as the magistrate concluded his powers were insufficient to deal with the offence.
Hikmet has been released on conditional bail.
Prosecutor Rachel Dudley told the court that Mahroo has received “death threats” on social media, including one message that said “death would be too quick”. She said she was “shocked and concerned” by the threats towards her client and requested a “no-contact” clause in Hikmet’s bail conditions.
Hikmet said he had also received threats and claimed he had no knowledge of any directed towards Mahroo.
The magistrate granted conditional bail, prohibiting Hikmet from having any contact with Mahroo and stating he must not “encourage anybody else to make contact with her in any way.”
He was also ordered to reside at his current address in Colindale, surrender his passport and “not attempt to or actually purchase any international travel documents.”
