Protestor Prosecuted for Incitement

BBC News
November 3, 2006

A man protesting against the Danish Muhammad cartoons called for the beheading of Islam's enemies and the death of UK soldiers, a court heard. Mizanur Rahman, 23, a web designer of Palmers Green, north London, denies inciting murder and using words or behaviour to stir up race hate.

He addressed the protest in London on February 3 on the issue of UK troops. Prosecutors said Mr Rahman had told the crowd: "We want to see their blood running in the streets of Baghdad." David Perry QC said Mr Rahman had carried placards saying "behead those who insult Islam" and "annihilate those who insult Islam".

He said: "Annihilate and behead are ordinary English words with the ordinary English meaning of kill." Mr Rahman also called for a wave of attacks across Europe in the manner of 11 September, Mr Perry said. A video of his megaphone-amplified speech would be played to the Old Bailey jury.

'Not about Allah'
He allegedly told fellow demonstrators: "Oh Allah, we want to see another 9/11 in Iraq... in Denmark... in Spain... in France... all over Europe. Oh Allah, destroy all of them."

And Mr Perry said Mr Rahman had also spoken of the British and American forces in Iraq, saying: "The Mujahideen will destroy them and their freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, in Falluja and in Baghdad. "We don't want to see them in Baghdad, in Iraq any more. We want to see them coming home in body bags, we want to see their blood running in the streets of Baghdad, we want to see their blood running in Fallujah.

"We want to see the Mujahideen shoot down their planes the way we shoot down birds, we want to see their tanks burn in the way we burn their flags."

The prosecution emphasised that freedom of speech did not stretch to inciting the murder of religious opponents. Mr Perry said: "This case is not a trial of Islam. This case is not about Allah or the Prophet Muhammad."

The case continues.