Mekong Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Atheist guilty over cartoons left at Liverpool airport Anti-religious campaigners have condemned the conviction of a "militant atheist" who left rude images in Liverpool Airport's prayer room. The National Secular Society called for the "draconian" law used against Harry Taylor to be changed. Taylor, 59, of Griffen Street, Salford, admitted at Liverpool Crown Court religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. The Crown Prosecution Service said each case should be treated on its merits. The atheist admitted leaving images of important religious figures in sexual poses but said he was simply challenging the views of others. The chaplain at the airport, who was "severely distressed" by the discoveries in November and December 2008, immediately reported the images to the police, prosecutors said. Taylor, who has been released on bail, will be sentenced on 23 April. The maximum sentence for such an offence is seven years in prison. Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said the prosecution had brought blasphemy laws "in through the back door". 'Slightly eccentric' He said: "This is a disgraceful verdict, but an inevitable one under this pernicious law. "It seems incredible in the 21st Century that you might be sent to prison because someone is 'offended' by your views on their religion. "The blasphemy law was abolished three years ago, but it lives on under the guise of religiously aggravated offences and is several times more dangerous. "Mr Taylor struck me as slightly eccentric and he acted in a provocative way." He added: "In a multicultural society, none of us should have the legal right not to be offended. This law needs to be re-examined urgently." The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it treated each case on an individual basis. A spokeswoman said: "All we can do is to look at each on its merits. "We had a realistic chance of conviction, which was obviously seen in what happened in court." Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Was it a Muslim prayer room? I haven't noticed any other kind of prayer rooms at airports. The guy was obviously going out of his way to be obnoxious and doesn't deserve any sympathy, though the law seems a bit bizarre for the 21st century. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted March 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Definately Christian "The chaplain at the airport, who was "severely distressed" by the discoveries" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 I wasn't sure, since the US military now has Muslim "chaplains", even though Islam has no official clergy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 In the USA it would probably be categorized a hate crime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Hi, Totally fucked up and a punishment that is WAY out of line with the 'crime'. This bit sums it up quite nicely: "In a multicultural society, none of us should have the legal right not to be offended. This law needs to be re-examined urgently." What about us atheists? I find all the religious crap highly offended. Can I bring criminal charges to Jehova's witnesses for harassing me? How about to Imams for blasting out calls to prayer? Those things offend me just as much as those pictures did that chaplain. I am certain most people will tell me 'That is different' though Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted March 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 MS I knew I could rely upon yorself to post such as that, after all we do seem to share rather similar religious beleifs, It is totally tucked up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Hi, "after all we do seem to share rather similar religious beleifs" Or rather, lack thereof Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Ok, so when these jesus shit bags come to my door, trying to convert me over, and leave images of jesus on the cross and other crap is somehow different then say someone with a differing view going to their turf looking to start shit and convert them to our side...? Let me say this one more time, FUCK THEM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 I find the bible thumpers at Nana and Soi Cowboy more amusing than offensive. But no one has a right to come to a stranger's door to preach to them. And come to think of it, where did the Hare Krishnas disappear to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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