An atheist who left leaflets mocking Jesus Christ, Islam and the Pope in Liverpool airport's prayer room has been sentenced to six months in jail suspended for two years, ordered to perform 100 hours' of unpaid work, pay £250 costs and given an Asbo.
The sentencing of Harry Taylor has been condemned by the National Secular Society as “creating a new blasphemy law that will open the way for every religious extremist to persecute and prosecute their critics.”
Terry Sanderson, President of the National Secular Society said: “Regardless of the fact that this six month sentence has been suspended, it is still totally out of proportion for what Mr Taylor did. Nobody can deny that he was being deliberately provocative in leaving these rather mild cartoons, cut from Private Eye, in the prayer room, but in the end he didn’t harm anybody and was simply making a point about the existence of such a facility. The chaplain could quite easily have simply thrown the papers in the bin. [National Secular Society] Read more
Atheist given Asbo for leaflets mocking Jesus Harry Taylor, 59, left home made posters at Liverpool John Lennon Airport three times in November and December 2008. The self-styled philosopher denied three counts of causing religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress but was convicted in less than an hour by a unanimous jury. Among the posters, one image showed a smiling crucified Christ next to an advert for a brand of ''no nails'' glue. [telegraph.co.uk] Read more
John Lennon Airport sexual image atheist gets Asbo A "militant atheist" who left explicit images in a prayer room at Liverpool John Lennon Airport has been given a six-month suspended sentence.
Harry Taylor, 59, of Salford, left images of religious figures in sexual poses on three occasions in 2008. Jurors found him guilty of causing religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress in March. [BBC] Read more
Criminal Conviction in England for Leaving Anti-Religious Leaflets in Airport Prayer Room Harry Taylor was convicted of “causing religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress,” and sentenced to six months in jail (suspended for two years), 100 hours of community service, and 250 pounds in costs; he was also barred from “carrying religiously offensive material in a public place.” A few details on the leaflets, from Asian News International/DailyIndia.com, which has the most comprehensive coverage I’ve found …. [Volokh Conspiracy] Read more [via Butterflies and Wheels]
