Freedom of speech?

Anjem Choudary recently issued a death threat. Protesting outside Westminster Cathedral in central London, Choudary clamoured for the execution of the Pope. As Choudary sees it, the Pope insulted Islam, and so for that reason the Holy Father should have his head chopped off. In other words, if you deride or slander the “religion of peace” you get killed.

But what kind of “peace” is that? Anyway, freedom of speech is one thing, but inciting others to kill is another thing altogther. In fact it’s a very serious offence.  Even so, the police didn’t get too excited. Sir Ian Blair (The Metropolitan Police Commissioner) felt no charges were called for, so just move along now, there’s nothing to see here.

It goes without saying that Sir Ian Blair does not represent the views of the of the British population, especially as far as muslims such as Choudary are concerned. But he’s a top cop and he’s been knighted by the Queen and all that so he can basically do what he wants. And the same is true of course for every other so-called top cop in the UK.

Consider, for example, what happened when Nick Griffin gave a series of speeches which criticised Islam. The BBC spent a lot of time and money filming what he said. The result of the BBC’s efforts was eagerly followed up by the police in West Yorkshire; and unlike Choudary, Griffin subsequently ended up in court on trumped up charges, not for inciting others to kill, but for allegedly trying to stir up racial hatred.

So if you’re a muslim nothing happens to you when you stand in the street demanding that anyone who “insults” Islam should be killed, but if you’re a non-muslim speaking to a private audience and you criticise Islam you get charged and end up in court. Thus, when it comes to freedom of speech, it’s one law for muslims and another for everyone else?