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Issue 255, Friday 30 July 2010 - 18 Sha'ban 1431

BNP activist cleared of inciting religious hatred

By Elham Asaad Buaras

BNP activist who delivered leaflets which blamed Muslims for the heroin trade has been cleared of intending to incite religious hatred on June 21.

Anthony Bamber, of Preston, printed papers claiming Muslims were guilty for importing the drug from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

They demanded that followers of Islam “apologise and pay compensation” for the trade, Preston Crown Court heard.

The 54-year-old said he had wanted to provoke a discussion about the heroin trade.

He denied seven counts of distributing threatening written material intended to stir up religious hatred between March and November 2008 and was cleared by a jury on all counts.

Bamber was responsible for a campaign which delivered 30,000 leaflets to targeted areas across the north of England over a year, the court heard.

Entitled The Heroin Trade, the leaflet said: “Before the Islamic invasion it was impossible to find heroin in our land.

“Muslims are almost exclusively responsible for its production, transportation and sale.

“It is a crime against humanity because it has caused far more suffering than slavery ever did. It has led to millions of premature deaths.”

Muslims should be held to account with condemnation heaped upon them so that it would lead to the abolition of the trade, it added.

Bamber told jurors there had been “no unpleasant incidents or social unrest” following the distribution of the leaflets.

Bamber said he had hoped to create interest and debate.

He said: “It was a desire to protest at what I say is a monstrous abomination. I believe I have the right to protest about the heroin trade.

“I think it should be discussed and debated, and it will come [round] to my opinion that it is a crime against humanity.

“I believe I was doing a good thing.”

In a statement to The Muslim News Det Supt Neil Hunter of Lancashire police said: “While we are disappointed with today’s decision, we accept the decision of the court.

“Notwithstanding today’s decision we condemn the contents of the leaflets and their distribution which we are concerned has the potential to damage community cohesion.”

The National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) said it was disappointed with the verdict. A spokesman for NAMP said, “We accept in full, the decision of our judicial system. We hope in true policing fashion a full review will be carried out in relation to this case and if there are lessons to be learned we can all benefit from it.”

NAMP President Zaheer Ahmad told The Muslim News, “This is an extremely disappointing news for the Muslim communities. I would like to take this opportunity to praise the work carried out by Lancashire Constabulary to bring this case before the Crown Court.”