Summon the police (Whoop Whoop Whoop)

I've blogged before about the misuse and abuse of poweres granted to the police particularly in regards to photography and the terrorism acts.

19-year old Azhar Ahmed posted the following on his Facebook page in regard to the deaths of soldiers in Afghanistan

"People gassin about the deaths of Soldiers! What about the innocent familys who have been brutally killed.. The women who have.been raped.. The children who have been sliced up..! Your enemy's were the Taliban not innocent harmful familys. All soldiers should DIE & go to HELL! THE LOWLIFE FOKKIN SCUM! gotta problem go cry at your soldiers grave & wish him hell because thats where he is going"

In other words the typical type of rubbish that crops up from time to time complete with poor grammar and spelling. At the start this is little different from any commentator doing a 'how dare you get upset about X when Y' that appears from any part of the political spectrum. The latter part does go too far and may be deemed morally reprehensible, but that's it.

Does he threaten a particular soldier? No he doesn't. Does he threaten soldiers in particular? No he doesn't. Does he call on others to threaten soldiers? No he doesn't. Yet despite this he's apparently been arrested for a "racially aggravated public order offence".

Let's just check that posting again... nope I can't see where he calls for all white soldiers to die or all black soldiers; non-Muslim soldiers; Christian soldiers; British soldiers; Amercian soldiers. Just soldiers.

So when did "soldiers" become a recognised racial or ethic grouping? Has this been applied to others? Will the police be hunting through older comments for those who called for "bankers to be strung up" to face such charges? How about those stating that "come the revolution the first against the wall will be the lawyers"? How about any who said that the police should crack some heads regarding the Occupy movement?

Somehow I doubt it but state that our (actually not just ours as he's not that specific) boys and girls in the Armed Forces should die for what they're doing and face a potential six months jail-time.

So remember - if someone makes a statement you find offensive don't tell them you find it offensive; don't ignore them or try to reason with them just summon the police.... whoop whoop whoop?

[Update 21/3- hattip to Septicisle. It seems someone's had a quiet word and the "racially aggravated public order offence" has been dropped instead he's getting charged under the Communications Act presumably section 127 why he's being charged for his "all soldiers should DIE" remark while those who made much more explicit threats in return are not being charged is a mystery. No wait of course it's not a mystery - he said a bad thing about 'our lads'. the others just made racially aggravated remarks how's that against the law. Oh wait.]