Six British Men Arrested After Quran Burning

Btw...

the arrested barman today protested his innocence in the daily mail, saying, "i had nothing to do with the fire. I smelt the smoke so i went outside to put it out." the worker, who refused to give his name, said the police confiscated his mobile phone, cds and dvds and took away all of the pub's dishcloths
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wtf?!??!
 
I know the Usan political system has some very deep flaws- but all the same I'm grateful that the Koran is not protected by law where I live.
 
Beerina said:
Btw...




wtf?!??!
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Presumably to show they were the same ones used as head coverings in the video.

But yeah, holy crap what a pathetic law:
suspicion of violating a 2006 law that bans the use of "threatening words or behavior" that could intentionally stir up "religious hatred."
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"Could" stir up hatred? :eek:

Written Constitution and guaranteed freedom of speech ftw.
 
WildCat said:
"Could" stir up hatred? :eek:

Written Constitution and guaranteed freedom of speech ftw.
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Note that the "could" part is not within the quotation marks in the article. It does not appear in the actual statute. Rather, the law is all about "intends".

I doubt these men will be convicted, if even charged.
 
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Rufo said:
Note that the "could" part is not within the quotation marks in the article. It does not appear in the actual statute. Rather, the law is all about "intends".

I doubt these men will be convicted, if even charged.
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Your law still makes it a crime to cause an emotion ("religious hatred" specifically).

That's bizarre, any way you slice it.
 
It's a stupid law. But guard against the traditional "Brits need to understand freedom". There are many areas where we have freedoms the US don't have.
 
WildCat said:
Your law still makes it a crime to cause an emotion ("religious hatred" specifically).

That's bizarre, any way you slice it.
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What the alcohol drinking age in the USA?

BTW - What do you think the guys were actually trying to acheive?
 
WildCat said:
Your law still makes it a crime to cause an emotion ("religious hatred" specifically).

That's bizarre, any way you slice it.
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I'm not British, so what we're talking about is not exactly "my law".

Also, what is illegal is not technically to cause an emotion, but to use threatening speech and behavior in an effort to cause that emotion. Causing the emotion in other ways (which people do, all the time) is not illegal.
 
Undesired Walrus said:
It's a stupid law. But guard against the traditional "Brits need to understand freedom". There are many areas where we have freedoms the US don't have.
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Such as?

(Not saying you are wrong - I am just curious as I couldn't think of anything material.)

(Except for not being able to buy booze on a sunday - that's pretty serious) (And that's a State thing - not Federal)
 
Rufo said:
I'm not British, so what we're talking about is not exactly "my law".

Also, what is illegal is not technically to cause an emotion, but to use threatening speech and behavior in an effort to cause that emotion. Causing the emotion in other ways (which people do, all the time) is not illegal.
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It's still a pretty contemptible bit of law making.

The price of free expression is that some bigots will be obnoxious (and reveal their true colours). Shouldn't be illegal (unless you are directly inciting violence - in which case there are existing laws to deal with that).
 
Giz said:
Such as?

(Not saying you are wrong - I am just curious as I couldn't think of anything material.)

(Except for not being able to buy booze on a sunday - that's pretty serious) (And that's a State thing - not Federal)
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Womens boobs in public places.
 
Giz said:
It's still a pretty contemptible bit of law making.

The price of free expression is that some bigots will be obnoxious (and reveal their true colours). Shouldn't be illegal (unless you are directly inciting violence - in which case there are existing laws to deal with that).
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By and large, I suppose we have a similar approach to the problem. I guess most of it depends on how you define "threatening" or "directly inciting violence".

My point is that freedom of speech always tends to be a matter of degrees. It's not an absolute principle that some follow and some don't.
 
funk de fino said:
What the alcohol drinking age in the USA?
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The US actually doesn't have a drinking age... states set them. Of course, if those states want highway funds they make it 21.

At any rate, you really think a lower drinking age is a fair trade-off for the ability of government to restrict any kind of speech they'd like by simply passing a new law?

BTW - What do you think the guys were actually trying to acheive?
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Motive should have squat to do with it.
 
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