Convicted in the United Kingdom for posting a joke about Islam on social media.
The man shared a meme on Facebook that said: «Fun facts about bacon! People who eat bacon are less likely to marry a nine-year-old girl!»
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A 65-year-old man has been convicted in the United Kingdom for sharing a joke about Islam on Facebook that the judge considered «grossly offensive». According to reports The Telegraph, the court has ordered him to pay Over £1,000 in fines and court costs. The complaint came from one of his neighbours, who was not Muslim, with whom the man had previously had a dispute over an unrelated matter. The joke was a Facebook post that read: «Fun facts about bacon! People who eat bacon are less likely to marry a nine-year-old girl!», in reference to the marriage of Muhammad with Aisha. The man convicted wasn't even the author of the post: he simply shared it on his profile. of Facebook.
The neighbour reported two posts but the prosecutor's office decided not to bring charges, believing there was no prospect of securing a conviction. The complainant, however, appealed this decision and the case eventually went to court. The first post complained of mocked irregular immigration and the hotels set up to accommodate migrants. The judge considered that it was part of a political debate that had even reached Parliament and did not regard it as criminal.. On the other hand, the joke about bacon was considered a religious criticism and «grievously offensive», and it is this publication that has led to the conviction. The convicted person has stated to Good morning that only«It was a joke, not directed at anyone, pointing out certain aspects of Islam.».
Accusations of reviving blasphemy in the United Kingdom
The sentence has provoked criticism from the Free Speech Union (FSU), which is funding the appeal and believes that cases like this they could end up reintroducing a kind of blasphemy law «through the back door». The organisation argues that Criticising or ridiculing Islam, even if it is offensive to some Muslims, should not constitute a crime.. The same condemned man has warned to The Telegraph who considers it «dangerous» to use the judicial system to limit criticism of a religion.
Lord Young of Acton, Director General of the FSU, has gone further and questioned whether a similar joke about Jesus Christ would have ended up in court. The organisation also recalls the case of Hamit Coskun, cConvicted of burning a Qur'an in front of the Turkish consulate in London and was subsequently acquitted on appeal. The case became even more controversial because of what happened during the protest: a Muslim who saw Coskun burning the Qur'an threatened him. He went to get a knife and came back to chase him.. When the police arrived, he justified himself by claiming that he was «protecting his religion.».
The Muslim admitted the charges of assault and possession of a bladed weapon and was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, with the sentence suspended for 18 months.. The judge took into account that he had reacted to what he considered a serious offence against his holy book.
For the Free Speech Union, both cases raise the same question. For the organisation, these incidents fuel the debate over whether British legislation is effectively protecting Islam from certain forms of criticism or mockery.
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