[unlearner]

Up until now I thought the UK erred on the liberal side of free speech.

I kept hearing of some Imam (if that is the correct term for Muslim clergymen) issuing edicts saying it was right for Muslims to resist American and British forces in Iraq, or to kill women and children for such and such, etc.

I always thought that those speeches went beyond the bounds into inciting criminal behavior.

But this, unless there are some important details being left out, is almost too shocking to believe.

It is now a crime to criticize Islam in the UK?

[demecleze]

You have the crux there. There is a big difference between criticizing and advocating specific acts of violence.

Clearly this guy just called it like he sees it (his prerogative no matter if he is racist!). He did not advocate any illegal actions.