CNCskilled Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Good to see the Judges backing the rights of the majority but why did they waste thousands of pounds of taxpayers money allowing this appeal in the first place? Army parade protesters lose appeal Feb 16 2011 The focus on minority rights "should not result in overlooking the rights of the majority" when it comes to freedom of speech, the High Court has said. Two judges were rejecting appeals by five Muslim men who staged a protest as British soldiers who had recently returned from Afghanistan paraded through Luton. They ruled the protests, which included accusing the troops of being "rapists, murderers and baby killers", went well beyond "legitimate expressions of protest". The five demonstrated against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as the Second Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment, known as the Poachers, made its way through the city on March 10 2009. The group was all convicted of public order offences by Luton Magistrates' Court. Jalal Ahmed, 22, Munim Abdul, 29, Yousaf Bashir, 30, Shajjadar Choudhury, 32, and Ziaur Rahman, 33, all from Luton, were found guilty of using threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The five appealed to the High Court in London, arguing that they had been legitimately exercising their Article 10 rights to freedom of expression and to protest under the European Convention on Human Rights. Rejecting their appeal, Lord Justice Gross said: "There was all the difference in the world between expressing the view that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were illegal or immoral and that British forces should not be engaged in them and the abusive and insulting chants of the appellants." In a ruling which will provide guidance for future similar cases, the judge said: "To attend a parade of this nature and to shout that this country's soldiers were 'murderers', 'baby killers', 'rapists all of you' who would or should 'burn in hell' gave rise to a very clear threat to public order." The judge said it was the good fortune of the five, "most probably attributable to skilful policing", that there was no serious outbreak of violence. The judge observed the right to freedom of expression was important and sometimes protesters were to be protected. But it was not an unqualified right and "the justification for invoking the criminal law is the threat to public order". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glamrocker Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 They should be made to pay costs it was a futile appeal so why should the taxpayer be penalised Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Bourne Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Good to see the Judges backing the rights of the majority but why did they waste thousands of pounds of taxpayers money allowing this appeal in the first place? Because the lawyers wanted them to x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Matt] Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Link please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNCskilled Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 I think the only avenue available now is the European court of appeal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeX Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I'm pleased they where shown every chance to air their grievances and our legal system rebuffed them with a common sense judgement. If they had been denied the right to appeal we would never hear the end of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleyman Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 At last! Judges with <REMOVED> and not simpering muddle headed whimps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curry Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I am happy they were allowed to appeal but equally happy that the justice system did the correct thing in this instance and rejected the appeal. Maybe this will be a stark warning to other groups of ANY kind who think it is okay to throw personal insults at a group of people just doing their job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wednesday1 Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Excellent verdict, let's hope that other would-be protesters will be put off from launching distasteful protests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radar Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I'm pleased they where shown every chance to air their grievances and our legal system rebuffed them with a common sense judgement. If they had been denied the right to appeal we would never hear the end of this. I fear you are right, the case has been handled properly and now only the hard core-extremists would be the only ones left complaining. Most of the Muslim population I am certain would be supportive of this judgment along with all the decent fair minded people. Good result. We will of course still have some claim all Muslims supported the idiotic actions of this bunch but in my experience that hasn't been the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.