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.

"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."

Why did you think that? There is a lot of anti-Islamic sentiment in Eastern Europe. The Hungarian PM has banned Muslim immigrants, and Poland has had a lot of anti-Islamic sentiment also. carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=63892

I'm sorry but this is crazy. Two drunken idiots get 8 months in prison, where they are attacked whilst I know people who have physically assaulted their young children who get a suspended sentence?!?!
WTF is wrong with this country. If they have room in prison for 2 bacon throwers then they have room for someone who hits a child.

Crazy!
I think 8 months is a bit OTT though, I think a suspended sentence in this case would of been acceptable and toss child abusers in prison instead.

They did this with the intent to distress the muslims in the mosque. They actively sought out a mosque and caused distress based upon religion. Therefore it's much worse than kids digging up a flower bed. They deserve 8 months.

You lessen the sentence. So then what does that tell people- going into a place of worship and actively committing an act that would distress those inside is not a big deal?

I'm most shocked by the act of putting bacon in a worshipper's shoes, TBH. I'm guessing that the person in question had to borrow shoes to go home in.

It's not the same as burning poppies, I think the latter was worse, as it's saying that they don't care about our servicemen who died.

I'm not a Christian, but I wear a poppy.

When I man can get only two years for an acid attack that permanently scared a woman's face (out in less), yes the sentence is absolutely ridiculous OTT.

We have to get over the idea that hate crime is worse than any other type of crime. Its not. Sentencing needs to be far more consistent that it currently is

I am surprised and shocked that two Polish men have done this. I thought they had more respect for religious beliefs.

Huh? You thought all Poles respected religious belief?

You know Polish people are just people like any other people? A broad range?

Poppies aren't a religious symbol are they? Or political. There was something on the news about England Footballers(? - some sports team anyway) wanting to wear poppies on a match near to 11 November and Fifa say they can't because 'religious and polital symbols are not allowed' despite poppies being neither of these.

If a Muslim person damaged a church or it's fixtures and fittings or did something to distress the congregation, that would also be treated as a hate crime.

I'm most shocked by the act of putting bacon in a worshipper's shoes, TBH.

Yes that's personal and also sort of covert.

I am surprised and shocked that two Polish men have done this. I thought they had more respect for religious beliefs.

Why? I don't understand your reasoning?

Absurdly disproportionate.

Wearing poppies is nothing to do with Christianity Muslima Hindus Jews etc where all part of the war

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

Do you not see any irony in your mocking of Christianity in this thread?

It's absolutely a hate crime.

The point about Muslims burning poppies is a bit more complex, because (as we see on here every year) the symbolism around them (wearing/not wearing, red/white) is ambiguous. But, yes, IMO the answer is to treat the poppy-burners more strictly, rather than being up in arms at the bacon-throwers getting 8 months.

They deserve it for wasting good bacon! ;-)
{licks lips}

You're all right of course re Poles. It is just that many of my relatives are polish and they're all very religious and all extremely fair to others. I suppose I was just expressing my own surprise, and of course, like any nation there is a massive spectrum of feelings within it

IMO the burning of poppies was a hate crime.

It was done to deliberately upset and distress and the culprits should also have been sent to prison.

But sentencing has never been consistent in the UK.

So whether the two crimes are comparable or not, it does not mean that these two drunken wankers didn't deserve to go to prison.

The poppy burners need to be given much stricter punishment. It's not a hate crime in the same way as it is not a personal attack on individuals- but it is an incitement to hate.

I think throwing bacon specifically at Muslims is racially motivated hate crime. YABU.

Only 8 months?!

Didn't realise the baby Jeebus was big on poppies don't remember that in the ''good book'

Ridiculous comment. If an attack on Muslims or Muslim symbols/buildings of faith are a hate crime, destroying poppies is in the same league. Poppies are part of the British cultural identity and a sign of reverence to soldiers, who served the country.

Sentencing is too arbitrary, yes. What these men did with the bacon was abhorrent.

When I man can get only two years for an acid attack that permanently scared a woman's face (out in less), yes the sentence is absolutely ridiculous OTT.

Yes. The idea that this is worse than a violent crime is laughable.

Some fellows stole our car a couple of years ago (an X5, about 6 months old - so not a trivial sum of money) and they were caught in the commission of another X5 theft and they were... fined £140.

Stealing £100,000 --> £140 fine
Throwing bacon at Muslims --> 8 months in prison

The poppy burners need to be given much stricter punishment. It's not a hate crime in the same way as it is not a personal attack on individuals- but it is an incitement to hate.

I gather you feel the same way about British-white pacifists who burn poppies because they disagree with the 'fetishisation' of our troops - or is it just the Muslims who should be punished?

The pursuit of perfectly inoffensive speech and actions is a dangerous path indeed.

Tiddleypom

^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.

Every word here is GOLD!

Yes - come down like a ton of bricks on hate crimes - but on ALL hate crimes!

Don't pussyfoot around Muslim offenders - treat them just as harshly. It's the unfairness between eh punishments that causes further hate.

Your opinion is your opinion - but you have no right to force it on others, no matter what race, colour or creed you are.

With the 8 months, they will only do about half of that and be out on licence before then.

IT was deliberately inflammatory and designed to cause offence. Of course they don't 'remember' it. I think they got what they deserved. The only part I'm so keen on is the emphasis on their being Polish - as though racism doesn't exist amongst white Brits.

IMO the burning of poppies was a hate crime.

It was done to deliberately upset and distress and the culprits should also have been sent to prison.

Madness. Absolute madness. Better start building more prisons, I guess.