Brit Convicted for Anti-Extremist Banner

Thu, Oct 19, 2006 at 8:28:06 am PDT

British police refuse to arrest and charge Muslim demonstrators who call for violence and murder, but a British man who hung a sign on his fence calling for the death of Muslim extremists has been convicted of “causing distress.”

And his neighbors filed the complaint because they were afraid of the Religion of Peace™.

A protest in London against the publication of a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed as a terrorist incensed an Aberporth man, who painted an anti-Muslim slogan on a white sheet and draped it over his garden fence.

The words in bold red paint stated: “Kill all Muslims who threaten us and our way of life. Enoch Powell was right.”

Father of two Gary John Mathewson, who was arrested for displaying the banner, told a court: “This won’t stop until there is a Muslim president in the White House.”

And referring to MP Jack Straw questioning whether Muslim women should wear face veils he asked: “Are you going to arrest him?”

When prosecutor Maggie Hughes pointed out that the banner did not mention extremists Mathewson said: “That’s what I meant by those who threaten us and our way of life.’”

Adding that during the protest in London a Muslim was dressed as a suicide bomber he asked: “Why was he not arrested?”

One of his neighbours, a retired Army officer with 23 years service, told the court he reported the matter to the police because he feared a visit from Muslim extremists. ...

Finding Mathewson guilty presiding magistrate Anne Rees said she and her colleagues felt the words on the banner were likely to cause someone distress, and they did not find it as reasonable. The defendant was given a conditional discharge for two years and ordered to pay £150 costs.