3 Muslim Men Guilty of Hate Crime for Gay Death-Penalty Fliers

Three Muslim men in England were convicted of hate crimes for saying that homosexuals should be put to death.

Ihjaz Ali, 42, Kabir Ahmed, 28, and Razwan Javed, 27, handing out anti-gay leaflets in July 2010 that featured an image of a mannequin hanging from a noose and Islamic verses that said homosexuality should be punished by death and gays should be sent to hell. They also had three other fliers titled G.A.Y., for God Abhors You, and Turn or Burn.

The death sentence is the only way this immoral crime can be erased from corrupting society and act as a deterrent for any other ill person who is remotely inclined in this bent way, the first leaflet said.

The only dispute amongst the classical authorities was the method employed in carrying out the penal code.

The guilty verdict was the first of its kind: just eighteen months ago, legislation extending hate crime laws to include sexual orientation added to British laws.

“Everyone has a right to be protected by the law and we regard homophobic crimes, along with all hate crimes, as particularly serious because they undermine people’s right to feel safe,” said Sue Hemming, chief of the Crown Prosecution Service special crime division.

Ali reportedly printed and organized the distribution for the fliers, which were handed out after Friday prayers and called for a protest against the Gay Pride parade. The three men argued that their actions should be protected because they were part of their religious beliefs, but prosecutors quickly retorted that the vast majority of Muslims and indeed other religious people or people with no religion... are able to express their views if they wish to in a lawful, moderate and self-controlled way. The Death Penalty leaflet goes well beyond any such temperate discussion.

It was my duty as a Muslim to spread what God says about homosexuality, Ali told the Derby Crown Court.

The references on the leaflets are historical facts and quote from the Koran.

The three will be sentenced on Feb. 10. Two other defendants -- Mehboob Hussain and Umar Javed -- were acquitted by a jury.