Six arrested in Gateshead over 'Koran burning'

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Officers detained two men on September 15 and four more yesterday and all six were bailed pending further inquiries, Northumbria Police said.

''The arrests followed the burning of what are believed to have been two Korans in Gateshead on September 11,'' the spokesman said.

''The incident was recorded and a video placed on the internet.'' In a video still accessible on YouTube, six young men in hooded tops or wearing scarves over their faces can be seen pouring petrol on a book and setting it alight, before burning another.

On the video, which appeared to have been filmed behind a pub, they cheer as the first book bursts into flames.

Northumbria Police said the men were not arrested for watching or distributing the video, but on suspicion of burning the Koran.

Gateshead Council and the force issued a joint statement to stress that community relations in the area were good.

It said: ''The kind of behaviour displayed in this video is not at all representative of our community as a whole.

''Our community is one of mutual respect and we continue to work together with community leaders, residents and people of all faiths and beliefs to maintain good community relations.''

The men may have been copying Florida-based Pastor Terry Jones, who caused an international outcry by threatening to burn the holy book on September 11, although he did not go ahead with the plan.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8020296/Six-arrested-in-Gateshead-over-Koran-burning.html

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Ah, gotta love the UK.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

This is another reason why the BNP is needed in the UK.

[FaithfulandTrue 6]

This is another reason why the BNP is needed in the UK.

What is the BNP and why on earth did they burn the Koran

Edited September 23, 2010 by wonderful07 2010

[Saddle Bronc 124]

What is the BNP and why on earth did they burn the Koran

BNP = British National Party.

It was not the BNP which did the burning--but two pubcrawlers in Gateshead who burnt some papers, claimed them to be from a quran, and then made a video of it.

[alienlovechild 75]

Northumbria Police said the men were not arrested for watching or distributing the video, but on suspicion of burning the Koran.

Gateshead Council and the force issued a joint statement to stress that community relations in the area were good.

Is it illegal to burn a Koran in the UK? Does this apply to any printed material or just religious material?

[Amby 490]

I'm not surprised. It's the northeast of England and they're just living up to the geordie (though not technically geordies since they're on the other side of the river) stereotype

[Danno 1,228]

Is it illegal to burn a Koran in the UK? Does this apply to any printed material or just religious material?

And would this include Global Warming material?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

And would this include Global Warming material?

Yep! the ice in my glass melts every time. Unless im sitting in my anti global warming freezer that preserves ice cubes.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Kinda strange to arrest anyone for burning the Koran since I thought that freedom of speech was available there. Guess I was wrong.

[Heracles 417]

Kinda strange to arrest anyone for burning the Koran since I thought that freedom of speech was available there. Guess I was wrong.

Hatred is not considered freedom of speech in most countries. Freedom of speech everywhere else refers to the freedom to voice one's political views.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Hatred is not considered freedom of speech in most countries. Freedom of speech everywhere else refers to the freedom to voice one's political views.

Then they don't have freedom of speech. That is cool though as luckily I live in a country that does.

[Heracles 417]

Then they don't have freedom of speech. That is cool though as luckily I live in a country that does.

As my good friend Scandal once implied, people tend to copy what works well. Therefore, it's no coincidence that no one wants US style freedom. Actually it's the butt of jokes abroad. I am sure you think who cares but, like I said, developed countries tend to copy what works best and they have avoided that like the plague.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Hatred is not considered freedom of speech in most countries. Freedom of speech everywhere else refers to the freedom to voice one's political views.

Huh. I thought speaking against Islam was a political view.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Incitement of racial hatred and incitement of religious hatred are not protected by free speech in the UK. Looks like they charged them with incitement of religious hatred on this one. They could have also added burning without a fire permit if they wanted. Lucky the UK doesn't have any laws against being stupid or they could have got them for that too.