Muslim Poppy Day Burners Sicken Those Free To Be Offended
TO Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court, where Mohammad Haque and Emdadur Choudhury are accused of burning poppies on the anniversary of Armistice Day. Mr Haque is not a smack head nor is he a policeman torching the seized contraband; he is a member of the Islamist group Muslims Against Crusades (MAC).
It is alleged that on November 11 at Kensington Gore, Haque and Choudhury employed threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within hearing or sight of persons who could be alarmed or distressed by this.
On a video shown in court Muslim men can be heard chanting during the two minute silence:
“Burn, burn British soldiers, British soldiers burn in hell.”
“British soldiers – murderers, British soldiers – rapists, British soldiers – terrorists.”
People were distressed. A Tony Kibble tells the court:
“They [MAC protesters] carried on shouting throughout the two minute silence. Halfway through, I looked up to see what was going on around and I saw a ball of fire fall to the ground. Literally, my stomach turned over.”
It’s hard to imagine that the protests were designed to be anything other than offensive. But people can be alarmed or distressed by pretty much anything. Acousticophobics have a fear of noise; botanophobics have a fear of plants; pogonophobics have a fear of beards.
Inside the court, both men pleaded not guilty to one count under the Public Order. Outside the court, there was a protest by representatives from the English Defence League (EDL).
Both groups seem to focus not on the loss of life, gratitude for the sacrifices made and never forgetting the pain of war, but on the poppy being an official display of support for Britain’s military fights abroad.
The fallen gave their lives so that we may be free. It is freedom to give offence and to be offended. It is also a freedom that the law of the land applies equally to all citizens regardless of race, creed, sex or colour.
Note: Anorak would like the case to lead to bigger things, notably our campaign for National No Poppy days, whereon people against the cultivation of poppies wear only the plastic central part of the Remembrance Day symbol.
Wearing poppies with pride when we are waging war in Afghanistan, centre of the world’s opium industries, is nuts. We demands No Poppy Day – and we demand it now!!!!!
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Posted: 23rd, February 2011 | In: Reviews Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
