[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Shasown

Whilst I agree a prison sentence would be a bit OTT, a punitive fine of £50 isnt any great punishment by any stretch of the imagination. Means testing of income is simply to determine what the rate of repayment of any fine is not the extent of punishment.

As to his expression of free speech, the time, place and manner of his expression was chosen to be as offensive and insulting as possible.

I wonder if he and his chums would mind if a group called "Christians Against Paedophiles" assembled near some peaceful muslim gathering and started chanting "Your Prophet's a Paedo"?

Or a group of militant feminists called "Women Against Oppression" gathered outside a mosque and started burning copies of the Qur'an because of the way women are repressed in the islamic world?

Wonder what he and his chums would call for then? One of those fatwa things?

And if either group did carry out those actions and were then prosecuted for their actions would if they had similar incomes be let off in the same court with only a £50 fine?

After all they would only be expressing their rights to a peaceful assembly and freedom of speech.

I'm sure they wouldnt like it, I'm sure they're as hypocritical as they come when promoting free speech, but I wouldnt criminalise any of the above for voicing their opinion. Don't get me wrong, I'm disgusted at what they did and I would consider it incredibly disrespectful but I dont think it should be illegal.

They're not the only ones who stage offensive demonstrations, when the EDL march through a heavily populated Muslim area calling for no more Mosques it could be argued they are trying to be as offensive and insulting as possible. But they are allowed to go ahead, one of the drawbacks of freedom of expression I guess