Two female football fans ripped up pages from the Koran during a match before throwing them in the air ‘like confetti’ while chanting racist songs about Muslims, a court heard.
Middlesbrough FC supporters Julie Phillips, 50, and Gemma Parkin, 18, have been found guilty of using religiously aggravated threatening or insulting behaviour while watching their team’s away fixture against Birmingham City on December 7 last year.
Magistrates heard that 25 minutes into the second half, Philips pulled a copy of the Muslim holy book from her handbag and started ripping out the pages.
[A COMMENT] They get fined. Burn a bible no one would care. Burn a poppy and get nothing. Say's alot about this country.
[ANOTHER] They may be racist, but it is horrible that one can be convicted for simply ripping pages out of a book! especially given the relevance of their symbolic statement to significant current issues! Get rid of that stupid public order act, it allows your government to prosecute anyone for anything. [Daily Mail] Read more
