British National Party leader detained [arrested] after calling Islam 'wicked faith'

AFP via Yahoo ^ | 12/14/2004 | Staff

[sarah_f]

LONDON (AFP) - The leader of the rightwing British National Party(BNP), Nick Griffin, was arrested Tuesday after he called Islam a "vicious, wicked faith" in a television documentary.

Griffin, 45, was arrested on suspicion of "incitement to commit racial hatred" and held for questioning by police in northern England before he was released on bail several hours later.

When asked if he considered Islam a "vicious, wicked faith", Griffin urged reporters to study the Koran for themselves before saying: "There are aspects of that religion which are wicked."

He then condemned the treatment of women under Islam.

The BNP, which won 800,000 votes but no seats in the European elections in June, charged the arrest was part of a "crude" bid by Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites)'s government to win back Muslim votes lost over his war in Iraq (news - web sites).

A BNP spokesman said four non-uniformed police officers raiding the family farmhouse in Wales "awoke the Griffin household from their sleep" early Tuesday.

Griffin was the 12th person arrested in connection with the investigation into the BBC documentary aired in July.

The BNP's founding chairman John Tyndall, 70, was arrested on suspicion of the same offense on Sunday following a speech he made in the northwestern city of Burnley in March.

[BobL]

Yes - I found it, thanks. I'll read it at some point, since it's a bit lengthy.

[MontanaBeth]

...from well-meaning but non-informed American conservatives (who would dislike him as much as we) has been somewhat tiring.

I know exactly what you mean, when a newspaper in the UK decided to butt in on our Presidential election, by encouraging a letter writing campaign using well-meaning but non-informed English liberals trying to influence people here. I also found that very tiring. Have an absolutely great day.

[Fred Nerks]

Just heard a brief mention on tonight's news - catchthefire ministries 'found guilty' and have to apologize. There's nothing on their site yet. My mouth fell open when I heard it, I'm so mad I'm besides myself with rage!