Poppy burning

News in Brief

On 7 March, Emdadur Choudhury, a member of “Muslims Against Crusades” (MAC), was fined £50 after being convicted of committing public disorder during the two-minute silence last Remembrance Day. Choudhury burned two large plastic orange poppies at an MAC demonstration in west London on 11 November. Khalid Mahmood, a Muslim Labour MP, described the fine as inadequate, saying: “We don't take it seriously enough, he hurt a lot of people. I really don't think it is acceptable to protest against people who have died for their country.” Choudhury said: “I did it for Allah. I did it to raise awareness that these so-called soldiers are the criminals. They are the ones who should be tried for war crimes.” During the two-minute silence, the Muslims Against Crusade demonstrators chanted: “British soldiers burn in hell”. Section 5 of the Public Order Act covers “threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour”.