UK: Muslim judge convicts Christian preacher of hate speech

MARCH 30, 2015 10:56 PM BY ROBERT SPENCER66 COMMENTS

Judge Shamim Qureshi, who heard this case, is also a judge at a Sharia court: “Overd’s case is being heard by a Muslim, Judge Shamim Qureshi, who also serves as the presiding judge at the Sharia law-based Muslim Arbitration Tribunal.” — Christian News, March 13, 2015

Qureshi complained that Overd “happily shouts out the negative points in any other religion.” When will he be bringing Anjem Choudary up on similar charges?

“Taunton street preacher convicted for homophobic sermon,” BBC, March 23, 2015:

A Christian street preacher has been convicted of delivering homophobic sermons in the middle of a high street.

Michael Overd, from Creech St Michael, made the remarks over loudspeakers in Taunton, Somerset, last summer.

He was cleared of a second similar charge and another of causing “racially-aggravated” harassment aimed at Muslims.

What race is Islam again? I keep forgetting.

Overd, 50, was fined £200 and ordered to pay compensation and costs totalling £1,200 at Bristol Crown Court.

Sentencing, judge Shamim Qureshi told Overd he “knew full well the power of words to hurt”.
‘Double standards’

After being told he would have to pay £250 to his victim, Overd initially refused but was threatened with a 45-day prison sentence if he did not.

He agreed to pay, but said the judgement was “flawed” and told the judge he would have to “answer to the same god”.

Judge Qureshi told the preacher he seemed to enjoy testing the laws on free speech to their limits.

He said: “In my view he enjoys coaxing people into asking him questions so that he can reply loudly into the microphone to answer them.

“The only semblance of civilised conversation is when they commend him, if they disagree he shouts them down.”

However, Overd had “double standards”, the judge said, believing he was right and everyone else was wrong.

During sentencing he said Overd “does not display any scholarly approach to the topics but merely preaches whatever little he had learnt, regardless of being rude or bullying to others.

“He happily shouts out the negative points in any other religion.”

Asked after the case whether he would tone down his sermons, Mr Overd said: “I follow my Lord and leader, so I won’t tone down.”…