John Doc

🚨 BREAKING: APPEAL AGAINST ISLAMIC BLASPHEMY CODE This Friday, FSU member Stephen Gray will appeal his conviction at the Crown Court for reposting a meme critical of Islam. Stephen, a retired police officer with nearly 30 years’ service, reposted a meme that had already been shared thousands of times: “Fun facts about bacon! People who eat bacon have a lower chance of marrying a 9-year-old!” The post referred to the Prophet Muhammad’s marriage to Aisha. According to the Hadiths, she was six when they married and nine when the marriage was consummated. Stephen says the post was satirical, but he also hoped it would prompt serious debate about whether that marriage has helped make child marriage acceptable in parts of the Muslim world. The CPS initially decided not to charge him. After the complainant appealed, the decision was reviewed and Stephen was prosecuted under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 for sending a “grossly offensive” message. In April, District Judge Steven Hood convicted him. The judge found that the post could not be making a serious point because it was light-hearted. Stephen was ordered to pay more than £1,000. Parliament abolished the blasphemy laws in England and Wales in 2008. They should not return through the back door, and they certainly should not protect one religion alone. Criticising Islam, or any faith, is not a crime. Nor is reposting a joke that some people find offensive. The Free Speech Union has instructed John Beggs KC to represent Stephen. We have done this before: we funded Hamit Coskun’s defence and secured the overturning of his conviction on appeal. We then beat the CPS when it tried to challenge his acquittal. Cases like this are expensive. Please donate to Stephen’s crowdfunder at the link below 👇