to think eight months in prison is a bit excessive for throwing bacon

[CondyLisa]

www.thesun.co.uk/news/2095440/two-polish-men-bombarded-london-mosque-with-tesco-bacon-after-oktoberfest-booze-binge/

"Blackfriars Crown Court heard that the pair had bought a packet of bacon at a Tesco after drinking heavily at the festival but could not remember going to the mosque on Sunday night, October 2.

Prosecutor Carol Summers said the mosque’s caretaker had at first thought the Polish pair were worshippers but was stunned when meat was thrown at him.

The men threw several rashers of bacon, also placing a third piece in the shoe of a worshipper."

They appear to have no prior offending history.

Obviously whether you are at a church, mosque or community centre, you shouldn't be hassled by drunken yobs and it is right that they should be punished, but this seems to be a de facto blasphemy sentence more than anything else.

I don't see that throwing bacon is more serious than, say, yobs ripping up flower beds that people have worked on, and which provide at least as much social utility as a place of worship - but the latter attracts a sentence of community service, whereas we have eight month prison sentence for some bacon.

[Ohb0llocks]

It's a racially aggravated assault basically. They deserve everything they get.

[Backaffyaspookybitch]

I haven't read the article but is it being viewed as a hate crime?

World's gone bonkers though so I'm not surprised.

[Ohb0llocks]

And I thing that acting in such a threatening, degrading manner towards someone visiting their place of worship is a lot worse than yobs digging up a flower bed. YABVU

[needasmartnn]

Muslims burning poppies got fined a paltry sum. YANBU the world has gone mad. Double fucking standards don't even begin to cover it.

[JaneAustinAllegro]

would you feel differently if it was burning a cross? do you really not understand the symbolism?

[Wookiecookies]

YABVU, it was a hate crime, they should have got longer IMHO.

[welcometowonderland]

YABU
It's a hate crime towards someone's place of worship

[Ayeok]

If they threw bacon at a random passer by it would be different, but they deliberately sought out a mosque and did something that they knew was massively offensive and distressing.

[abbsismyhero]

I don't recall Muslims serving an eight month prison sentence for racially aggravated anything its not as widely reported? Or does it not happen?

[StillSmallVoice]

YABVU. They went out of their way to be unbelievably offensive to people minding their own business.

[WorraLiberty]

If they threw bacon at a random passer by it would be different, but they deliberately sought out a mosque and did something that they knew was massively offensive and distressing.

Exactly.

And then the cowardly bastards pretend they don't remember visiting the mosque.

Very convenient that the alcohol happened to completely wipe out their memories...

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

It's not just a case of throwing bacon, though is it.
It was hate crime. I'd have gave them 5 years.

[Themoreitsnowstiddlypom]

I don't think its severe at all, i accept sometimes there are double standards ie in respect of the muslim's burning poppies just getting fines etc, but its the fines for burning poppies which is not severe enough.
I think that doing anything like burning poppies or throwing bacon at muslims and anything else similar to this should be dealt with harshly as it can provoke racial hatred and /or even cause public order issues in response to it and break down community ties etc.
People need to realise that despite what your personal views are it is not acceptable to behave this way and cause public distress, unrest and insult other peoples beliefs, ways of life and to disrupt their ability to be able to leave a peaceful life. so yes, throw the book at anyone doing anything like this.

[Branleuse]

its pretty easy to go about your day not doing racist hate crimes on people. They dont deserve any sympathy, and with the massive spike in racially aggravated assaults and crimes on people in the UK, im glad theyre taking this seriously. It needs properly cracking down on

[ScarletForYa]

They deserved it. Putting rashers in a worshipers shoe is really offensive.

[TheVermiciousKnid]

YABU. Can you really not see how this is different from ripping up flower beds?

[EdmundCleverClogs]

This country has seen a huge rise in racist behaviour since Brexit. An example had to be made, it may make other idiots think twice. Yabu.

[ToastDemon]

YABU. This was a hate crime not a prank.

[ghostyslovesheets]

Good - Yabu op and I think you know it

[Squeegle]

It's a hate crime. They chose bacon as it is deliberately offensive. I am surprised and shocked that two Polish men have done this. I thought they had more respect for religious beliefs.

[M00MINMAMMA]

YABVU - they are racists and it's nasty intimidation.

[JustAnotherPoster00]

Muslims burning poppies got fined a paltry sum. YANBU the world has gone mad. Double fucking standards don't even begin to cover it.

Didnt realise the Baby Jeebus was big on poppies don't remember that in the 'good book'

[BarbaraofSeville]

Throwing bacon at a mosque and putting it in a muslim worshipper's shoe is not a prank, but a religiously and/or racially aggravated hate crime and has been treated as such.

Some years ago, someone put a pig's head on the aerial at a local taxi company, that was run by a Muslim family and were similarly charged.