Not news but something i was not aware of

dr gonzo

I was reading a story today that happened last year that i found quite strange. A guy in public office was arrested for making a bad taste joke about a muslim journalist under this law:

Link

I find this mad. Racism, it goes without saying, is despicable in all its forms but to arrest someone for a twitter comment (offensive though it might have been) seems like a gross over reaction and misuse of police resources.

Am i wrong here? More importantly is Ireland the same way and if not, should it be?

Fukuyama

Spouting hate comments is illegal. He got what he deserved.

smokedeels

What was the joke?

Biggins

The Twitter person could have commented on whatever the reported wrote, disagreed with it and explained why - but no, he went for the personal attack apparently and maybe this is why he is now paying for it?
Till we know the full facts, its a grey area that we can't be sure of to be honest - and even then its a tough call for a court verdict alone in some cases.

cml387

I don't see anywhere what it is the guy said (am I missing something?).

Anyway I never forward on any mails I receive at work that are even mildly NSFW.

Anything written down is easy evidence against you.

dr gonzo

Apologies, dont know why i didnt link the story too for context.

Story

The comment is exceptionally bad taste even out of context but it got me thinking because i know the Americans would find the idea that he was arrested more shocking then the comment itself and i wonder if its better to protect people who would be subject to this kind of abuse or keep free speech unfettered.

Biggins

dr gonzo wrote: »

Apologies, dont know why i didnt link the story too for context.

Story

The comment is exceptionally bad taste even out of context but it got me thinking because i know the Americans would find the idea that he was arrested more shocking then the comment itself and i wonder if its better to protect people who would be subject to this kind of abuse or keep free speech unfettered.

Cheers for the link.
Reading the comment, the first though that stuck me was that it could be construed as a call/hint for some muppet to consider committing a violent act!
If a judge/jury sees it that way, the person could indeed be found to have broken a law.

dr gonzo

Biggins wrote: »

Cheers for the link.
Reading the comment, the first though that stuck me was that it could be construed as a call/hint for some muppet to consider committing a violent act!
If a judge/jury sees it that way, the person could indeed be found to have broken a law.

Cant argue with tbh, if a person actually felt in danger from the comment that is a whole other story. Reading the law though:

"sends by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character; or"

I get the feeling that he was arrested purely because it was distasteful rather then specifically threatening (Although menacing messages are covered here.)

mikemac

"Can someone please stone Yasmin Alibhai-Brown to death? I shan't tell Amnesty if you don't. It would be a blessing, really,"

Nasty alright

Biggins

dr gonzo wrote: »

C...I get the feeling that he was arrested purely because it was distasteful rather then specifically threatening (Although menacing messages are covered here.)

Well the law in England allows for 'incitement' so if his comments is seen to be that or at least slyly trying to provoke others towards incitement, it explains why the poster is now being at least under question by someone in legal terms.

Morlar

"Can someone please stone Yasmin Alibhai-Brown to death? I shan't tell Amnesty if you don't. It would be a blessing, really,"

feelingstressed wrote: »

Nasty alright

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/nov/11/twitter-stoning-conservative-mp

Twitter 'stoning' jibe from Conservative councillor to be reported to police

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown regards Gareth Compton's remarks as racially motivated and incitement to murder

The columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown has said she will report a Conservative councillor to the police after he posted a message on Twitter saying it would be a "blessing" if she was stoned to death.

Birmingham councillor Gareth Compton posted the remark yesterday. He called it "a glib comment" in reaction to the writer's appearance on Nicky Campbell's Radio 5 Live breakfast show.

"Can someone please stone Yasmin Alibhai-Brown to death? I shan't tell Amnesty if you don't. It would be a blessing, really," he tweeted from his iPhone.

Alibhai-Brown said she regarded his comments as incitement to murder.

The journalist, who writes columns for the Evening Standard and the Independent, told the Guardian: "It's really upsetting. My teenage daughter is really upset too. It's really scared us.

"You just don't do this. I have a lot of threats on my life. It's incitement. I'm going to the police – I want them to know that a law's been broken."

She added that she regarded Compton's remarks as racially motivated because he mentioned stoning.

"If I as a Muslim woman had tweeted that it would be a blessing if Gareth Compton was stoned to death I'd be arrested immediately. I don't think the nasty Tories went away."

Compton, the Conservative councillor for Erdington, said he was writing in response to comments made by Alibhai-Brown on Radio 5 Live.

The councillor claimed she had said, with reference to David Cameron's trip to China, that no politician was morally qualified to speak out about human rights abuses, including the stoning of women, bar the likes of Nelson Mandela.

Compton, who later apologised on Twitter, added: "Twitter is a forum for glib comment of the moment. It was a glib comment. Who could possibly think it was serious?

"Obviously I apologise. No offence was intended."

The incident would not be the first time that a politician has been landed in hot water as a result of comments posted on Twitter.

A Labour candidate was sacked during the general election campaign after posting a series of offensive comments about other politicians, voters and celebrities on his Twitter page.

Stuart MacLennan, who was standing in the Moray constituency in Scotland, described the elderly as "coffin-dodgers" in one comment and complained about being "up north again in his constituency".

• This article was amended on 11 November 2010. The online headline referred to Gareth Compton as an MP. This has been corrected.

Over reaction if you ask me. She really considers this off the cuff comment to be an actual, legitimate 'incitement to murder' ? ?

mikemac

On the other side, there is a Muslim in the UK constantly inciting and speaking hate filled messages.

Abu Hamza, you know the man with the hook in place of his hand is always stirring it.

He is Egyptian and I'm amazed the UK haven't deported him yet. If he live in Ireland was preaching the same hate I'd wanted him kicked out too.
Proper hate filled speeches and not quick twitter comments like this thread

I think I've gone a bit offtopic

Biggins

feelingstressed wrote: »

...Abu Hamza, you know the man with the hook in place of his hand is always stirring it.
He is Eyptian and I'm amazed the UK haven't deported him yet...

He did go to jail for hate related offences I think but still in England as far as I know.
Recent news item: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1329276/Abu-Hamzas-home-40k-makeover-paid-taxpayers.html
I think the Americans want him extradited and are doing the paperwork for it presently.
I don't think the English government will put up much of a fight to let him stay! LOL

Kevin Duffy

The tweet would be distasteful and possibly illegal no matter who it came from, but he's a publicly elected official and should be aware his comments carry more influence and consequence.

Nodin

dr gonzo wrote: »

I was reading a story today that happened last year that i found quite strange. A guy in public office was arrested for making a bad taste joke about a muslim journalist under this law:

Link

I find this mad. Racism, it goes without saying, is despicable in all its forms but to arrest someone for a twitter comment (offensive though it might have been) seems like a gross over reaction and misuse of police resources.

Am i wrong here? More importantly is Ireland the same way and if not, should it be?

Some context to this sort of thing....

A trainee accountant who posted a message on Twitter threatening to blow an airport "sky high" was today facing a £3,000 bill after he lost his appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Paul Chambers, 27, was said to be "disappointed and taking legal advice" after his appeal was dismissed by a judge at Doncaster Crown Court.

Earlier this year he was found guilty of sending a menacing electronic communication by a district judge at Doncaster Magistrates' Court.

He argued that no-one would ever have taken it seriously and launched legal action to clear his name.

However, Judge Jacqueline Davies, who was sitting with two magistrates today, ruled the message was menacing.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/man-loses-appeal-over-menacing-airport-tweet-2131507.html

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

JohnathanM

dr gonzo wrote: »

Am i wrong here? More importantly is Ireland the same way and if not, should it be?

It's certainly an over-reaction, but a politician should have known better than to expect a journalist to do anything but feign fear and offence to cash-in. Better off without somebody that naive.

Gneez

dr gonzo wrote: »

I find this mad. Racism, it goes without saying, is despicable in all its forms

Why?

Biggins

Gneez wrote: »

Why?

If you really have to ask, you might not understand the answer or want to.