Rep. Paul Gosar criticized for support of far-right British activist

PHOENIX (AP) -- The Arizona chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights group is condemning a congressman for appearing at a rally in support of a jailed far-right British activist.

Rep. Paul Gosar recently spoke in support of Tommy Robinson at a rally in London. The Arizona chapter for the Council on American-Islamic Relations says Robinson co-founded an Islamophobic group called the English Defence League.

Robinson's real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. He's serving a 13-month jail term after filming people involved in a criminal trial and broadcasting the footage on social media.

Video footage of the rally shows Gosar calling Robinson a citizen journalist who had his freedoms taken away by the justice system. Last week, Gosar expressed concern about Robinson while the House of Representatives was in session.