Indy Camp madness reaches new heights

Jesus Christ has risen and he’s been spotted in an Edinburgh civil court: we have the tweets to prove it.

A man claiming to be Jesus apparently disrupted matters at the Court of Session yesterday, popping into — and then being forcibly removed from — what are known as the Indy Camp legal proceedings.

For background, this lengthy legal battle involves the removal of a group of Scottish independence campaigners — who include those associated with an organisation known as JAH — and who set up camp outside the Scottish parliament late last year vowing to stay until a second Scottish referendum.

Though ordered to leave the site, the group has appealed the decision on human rights grounds, as well as adopting some stranger legal arguments.

It’s worth mentioning JAH has some less than conventional beliefs about the world. According to its website (screenshot below), Jesus Christ lives on earth right now — having been reborn in Sheffield in 1948 — and he’s here to claim “His Rightful British Israelite Throne.”

Richard McFarlane, a 49-year-old representing JAH, reportedly argued yesterday that the court was illegitimate because of the return of Christ, who is apparently a supporter of Scottish independence. He told the judge:

I know it’s very difficult for you given that you will be made redundant upon the coming of his Kingdom. However, the Lord is very serious. He has given permission for the camp to stay there.

Then, during a break in proceedings, you know who showed up.

Take a look at BBC journalist Philip Sim’s brilliant commentary from the case.

You'll think I'm making this up, but there is a man who appears to be dressed as Jesus in the courtroom. It's not the usual one though (JAH) — Philip Sim (@BBCPhilipSim) October 19, 2016

The chap tells me that he is in fact Christ, and has info on a USB stick that can prove it. The JAH group ask him about the Stone of Destiny — Philip Sim (@BBCPhilipSim) October 19, 2016

So we actually have two competing Christs here in court. The new one also backs independence, and wants to lodge some evidence of his own — Philip Sim (@BBCPhilipSim) October 19, 2016

The judges are still off bench so they're missing this. The latest Christ is telling the clerk that he's "very serious" about this #IndyCamp — Philip Sim (@BBCPhilipSim) October 19, 2016

The police are trying to get Christ to leave the court. He says there's been a miscarriage of justice; he's refusing to leave the courtroom — Philip Sim (@BBCPhilipSim) October 19, 2016

The police have physically removed the man who called himself Christ from the #IndyCamp courtroom. — Philip Sim (@BBCPhilipSim) October 19, 2016

Mr Keatings points out that all parties in the #IndyCamp distance themselves completely from the man who disrupted the case — Philip Sim (@BBCPhilipSim) October 19, 2016

According to reports, the man claiming to be Jesus said he did not know anyone in JAH, adding:

I am Jesus. I only speak for myself.

The judges have now retired to consider the appeal.