Jail term for man who burned Koran

[Snoutport]

The judge said: "You went out to cause maximum publicity and to cause distress."
He told Ryan that people were entitled to protest but not in the manner he chose."

link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/

Ah, sometimes the British know how to do it...I wonder what they would do with Terry Jones.

[marybourg]

1. I prefer the American way. nt.

[Obamanaut]

3. So do I. nt

[Skip Intro]

4. I'll second that.

[fishwax]

7. agreed n/t

[franzia99]

8. Agree. People should have the right to express themselves even if we don't agree with them.

[phasma ex machina]

18. +1 He probably wanted both the martyrdom and the publicity that comes with jail time. nt

[Paradoxical]

2. Kicked and unrec'ed

[snagglepuss]

5. I think its disgraceful he was jailed. Its a friggin book. The people who

should be jailed are those threatening violence because they are offended.

[ingac70]

6. The thing that sucks most about the UK. n/t

[franzia99]

9. They're still ruled by an inbred monarchy, so no surprises here.

[TheKentuckian]

10. Fucking stupid and authoritarian.

[Snoutport]

11. So you all think it wasn't a hate crime or the premeditated theft shouldn't be a charge?

When I was a kid I was charged with shoplifting, spent two days in jail and paid a $400 fine...for a $14 music tape. (yes, I will admit to it). So this guy stole a book of similar value and then used it in what the British called a "hate crime"... but he shouldn't have a punishment?

Just because it is a Koran doesn't make it willful destruction of public property...which he admitted to on his facebook page.

[RZM]

13. If Terry Jones had destroyed a Qu'ran that didn't belong to him, I would say prosecute him for theft

Or whatever statute applied. But I support 100 percent his right to burn his OWN Qu'ran.

[LAGC]

14. Hate crime?

Why should insulting or defaming a religion be treated anything like race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other sort of trait that can't be changed? Religion is a choice. People should be free to be able to exercise free speech in criticizing it all they want.

Sure, sentence him for his theft and destruction of public property, but "hate crime?" Please....

[RZM]

12. They know how to do it? By 'it' do you mean jail people for speech?

Because yes, they do seem to know how to do that. If that's how the British choose to run their society, good for them.

But alas, the United States is not Britain. We don't get down like that and I, for one, am pretty proud of that fact.

[Cerridwen]

15. Well, jones was apparently "run out of Germany" so it appears

he'd unlikely be welcome in at least 2 of the EU countries. Too bad the EU is so extreme and unforgiving; unlike the US. Hmm, of the 3, Germany, the UK and the US, who do you think has the longest history of dealing with "religious" power-brokering and influence?

Ah, well. Here're a couple of interesting articles:

(Newser) – Rev. Terry Jones was ranting against Islam long before his plan to burn Korans on the anniversary of 9/11 made him internationally infamous. According to the church blog, Jones has been preaching Islamophobia since before 9/11, when he ran a sister church in a poor area of Cologne, Germany. The church says he left because the community had begun to fill with Muslim Turkish immigrants hostile to his message, the Daily Beast reports.

But Jones’ estranged daughter says he was actually kicked out of Cologne for using church funds to buy personal luxuries and pay for his eBay business. Now, Jones is running that business out of the Gainesville church, and living in the church’s 1,500-square-foot luxury parson’s quarters. But he won’t be for long. In what's surely not an attempt to cash in on the publicity, the church is reportedly selling its campus, recently slashing the asking price to $1.1 million. Did we mention Jones has a new book, entitled Islam is of the Devil?

<no more at link >

More info from Spiegal Online International:

09/08/2010

Islamophobe's Past in Germany
Terry Jones Accused of 'Spiritual Abuse' at Cologne Church

By Yassin Musharbash and Dominik Peters

US fundamentalist pastor Terry Jones, who wants to burn copies of the Koran on Sept. 11, ran a church in the western German city of Cologne until last year when members of the congregation expelled him. Former members have spoken of his hate-filled sermons and insistence on "blind obedience."

<snip>

A "climate of fear and control" had previously prevailed in the congregation, says one former member of the church who does not want to be named. Instead of free expression, "blind obedience" was demanded, he says.

Various witnesses gave SPIEGEL ONLINE consistent accounts of the Jones' behavior. The pastor and his wife apparently regarded themselves as having been appointed by God, meaning opposition was a crime against the Lord. Terry and Sylvia Jones allegedly used these methods to ask for money in an increasingly insistent manner, as well as making members of the congregation carry out work.

<snip>

Former church members are still undergoing therapy as a result of "spiritual abuse," Schäfer said. According to Schäfer, Jones urged church members to beat their children with a rod and also taught "a distinctive demonology" and conducted brainwashing.

<snip there's more at link above>

[hfojvt]

19. Doesn't sound like the Government ran him out of Deutschland

At least not because of speech, maybe because of embezzlement of funds.

As for the other, pastors are fired all the time in the US. My cousin has been run out of a couple of churches for disputing with his congregation. Another case I know of I think is hilarious. In my home church I heard that the pastor wanted to break away from the national organization because he did not like their acceptance of gays. So there was some turmoil there. Anyway at one point the Session (the church's governing body, elected by the congregation) was questioning him about some travel expenses and he said something like "well if you are not going to trust me, then I should just resign." At which point my former youth director said "I move we accept his resignation" there was a 2nd and out he was voted, even as he sputtered that he really did not mean to resign.

[Cerridwen]

20. Anyone you know in the US ever been accused of "spiritual abuse"?

I found that interesting.

I still wonder which of the 3 countries I mentioned has the most experience with regard to "religious" power-brokering and influence.

Please note, I put "religious" in quotes because as far as I'm concerned (no true Scotsman, aside) anyone who uses "religion" as a tool of control doesn't have a Spiritual bone in their body. Of course, that's just my opinion.

[Tunkamerica]

16. you have no quran

[Codeine]

17. "the British know how to do it" -- fuck that.

I'll take free expression, thanks.

[BzaDem]

21. Kick and unrec. n/t