[Shasown]

A Muslim protester who daubed a war memorial with graffiti glorifying Osama Bin Laden and proclaiming 'Islam will dominate the world' walked free from court after prosecutors ruled his actions were not motivated by religion. Tohseef Shah, 21, could have faced a tougher sentence if the court had accepted that the insults - which included a threat to kill the Prime Minister - were inspired by religious hatred.

But - citing a loophole in the law - the Crown Prosecution Service chose not to charge him with that offence and he escaped with only a two-year conditional discharge and an order to pay the council £500 compensation after admitting causing criminal damage.

Yesterday the decision was attacked by politicians and veterans who were shocked by the desecration of the memorial in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire

Conservative MP Patrick Mercer, chairman of the Parliamentary Counter Terrorism sub-committee, said: 'This is an outrage against our war dead.'

Shah sprayed the words 'Islam will dominate the world - Osama
is on his way' and 'Kill Gordon Brown' on the plinth of the memorial in December.

He was arrested after his DNA was found on the discarded spray-can but refused to give an explanation for his actions or show any remorse, a court heard.

A file was sent to lawyers at the Counter Terrorism Division of the CPS in London to see if there was a racially or religiously motivated connotation.

However when Shah appeared before magistrates this week, prosecutor Andrew Bodger said: 'It was decided there was not enough evidence to prove this, and they decided it was politically motivated.'

Defending, Mumtaz Chaudry said Shah did not hold extremist views. 'This is nothing to do with his religious beliefs, his family's beliefs or his cultural beliefs,' he said. 'He is just an ordinary guy.

'He is remorseful, but at the time of his interview he was simply answering questions and didn't realise that was the right time to show remorse.'

Local veterans reacted with horror last night. Roy Whenman, 78, who fought in the Korean War, said: 'If what he wrote on the memorial wasn't evidence of racial or religious hatred then what is?

'The memorial commemorates people of my generation who died for our freedom as well as those fighting in wars today.

'It's diabolical that someone could deface it in this way.'

Community leaders among Burton- upon-Trent's 4,000-strong Muslim population also slammed Shah's actions.

Khadim Thathall, a former president of a mosque in the town, said: 'This young man has clearly been radicalised by groups which are looking to cause trouble and it's a pity that the court hasn't been able to deal with him more strictly.'

Shah - believed to be a former student of De Montfort University in Leicester - uses as his Facebook profile photograph a flaming lion's head superimposed on crossed Kalashnikov rifles.

He lives with his parents in a £200,000 detached house and works at his father's car spares shop. Last night, he refused to discuss the case.

Instead he appointed Abdullah Ibn Abbas, who described himself as spiritual leader of a group called Road to Jannah, to speak on his behalf.

He said: 'It really doesn't concern us how the British people feel about the graffiti he wrote - the real outrage should be about the thousands of Muslims who are being killed and butchered as a result of British foreign policy.'

The CPS said Shah's offence could not be charged as a hate crime because the law requires that damage must target a particular religious or racial group.

It said: 'While it was appreciated that what was sprayed on the memorial may have been perceived by some to be part of a racial or religious incident, no racial or religious group can be shown to have been targeted.'

The case comes after a senior judge ruled on Thursday that Christian beliefs had no right to protection by the courts.

Lord Justice Laws told Christian counsellor Gary McFarlane he had no right to appeal after he was sacked for refusing to give sex therapy to a gay couple.

The judge said legal protection for views held purely on religious grounds would be 'irrational'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0mmO4RqbX

So its not inciting racial or religious hatred to claim Islam will rule the world on a British War Memorial?

Its not a threat or incitement to paint 'Kill Gordon Brown'?

Wonder what would have happened if a Christian had daubed "Christianity will rule the world" on the outside of a mosque?

[Scarlett.]

Disgusting, truely and honestly despicable

[BB_Eye]

Ridiculous... I hope there will be another trial. What were the jury thinking?

[Angus]

Didn't you know they are untouchable in this country, seemingly able to say and do what they like, no matter how offensive and disgusting? Until the moderate Muslims in this country get a grip and denounce the extremists we will never be able to live together peacefully. I respect Islam and know that it is a peaceable religion, but there are now deluded, hatefilled imams in our midst, with their twisted and perverse interpretations of the Qu'ran who are creating extremists that are being brainwashed and manipulated under our very noses in the mosques we have allowed them to build here.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by angus58

Didn't you know they are untouchable in this country, seemingly able to say and do what they like, no matter how offensive and disgusting? Until the moderate Muslims in this country get a grip and denounce the extremists we will never be able to live together peacefully. I respect Islam and know that it is a peaceable religion, but there are now deluded, hatefilled imams in our midst, with their twisted and perverse interpretations of the Qu'ran who are creating extremists that are being brainwashed and manipulated under our very noses in the mosques we have allowed them to build here.

Until the moderate Muslims in this country get a grip and denounce the extremists we will never be able to live together peacefully.


this^^

[eye sea]

The UK courts may as well close their doors for good. There's no justice and no proper sentencing. It's like we don't have any laws in this country.

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by BB_Eye

Ridiculous... I hope there will be another trial. What were the jury thinking?

There wasn't a jury involved, it was dealt with in a magistrates court, however before you blame the magistrates, it was the Crown Prosecution Service who decided not to pursue the religious or racial hatred aspect of the crimes.

I just wonder if someone in the local area took it upon themselves to kick the living crap out of him, in response to his "vandalism" would the perpetrator of the crime be charged with a race crime or simply common assault?

[InOne]

He should just fuck off to an Islamic Country if he does not like it. Get him deported.

[Vicky.]

Doesnt surprise me to be honest.

Pathetic.

[Angus]

Originally Posted by Shasown

There wasn't a jury involved, it was dealt with in a magistrates court, however before you blame the magistrates, it was the Crown Prosecution Service who decided not to pursue the religious or racial hatred aspect of the crimes.

I just wonder if someone in the local area took it upon themselves to kick the living crap out of him, in response to his "vandalism" would the perpetrator of the crime be charged with a race crime or simply common assault?

The reason the CPS often refuse to prosecute is because they fear the Human Rights legislation behind which such scum hide and the costly legal aid this scum would probably have been awarded funded by the taxpayer. Cherie Blair made a fortune defending such cases. What sort of message does this send out - that he can continue to daub his vile graffiti wherever he wants?

Let's hope this ungrateful piece of sh*t gets his comeuppance, and soon.