Ihjaz Ali, Kabir Ahmed and Razwan Javed were found guilty of stirring up hatred Three men have been found guilty of a gay hate crime after handing out leaflets calling for homosexuals to be given the death sentence.
Ihjaz Ali, 42, Kabir Ahmed, 28 and Razwan Javed, 27, were found guilty of stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.They distributed a leaflet titled Death Penalty? at a mosque and through letterboxes, Derby Crown Court heard
It is the first prosecution of its kind since new laws came into force in 2010.
Sentencing was adjourned until 10 February. Two other men were cleared of the same charge.
Gay Pride protest
The court heard how the leaflets showed an image of a wooden mannequin hanging from a noose and quoted Islamic texts.
The leaflets said capital punishment was the only way to rid society of homosexuality.
They were handed out near the Jaima Mosque on Rosehill Street, Derby, and put through the letterboxes of people's homes in surrounding streets.
The court heard it was made and used as part of a campaign to publicise a protest in response to the Gay Pride festival held on 10 July 2010 in Derby.
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End Quote Ben Summerskill Chief executive, StonewallWitnesses told the court they felt threatened and deeply fearful in their own homes”
The men admitted distributing the leaflet but said they were simply following and quoting what their religion taught them about homosexuality and did not intend to threaten anyone.
Taxi driver Ali, of Fairfax Road, who the prosecution said was believed to be the main organiser and supplier of the leaflets, was found guilty of four counts of distribution on 2 July and 4 July 2010.Ahmed, of Madeley Street, and Javed, of Wilfred Street, were convicted of distribution in the area of the mosque on 2 July.
Taxi driver Mehboob Hussain, of Rosehill Street, and Razwan's brother Umar Javed, of Whittaker Street, were both cleared of distribution relating to posting the leaflets through the letterboxes of homes on 4 July.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of campaign organisation Stonewall, said: "We're satisfied to see these extremists convicted for distributing offensive and inflammatory leaflets that suggested gay people should be burnt or stoned to death.
"Witnesses told the court they felt threatened and deeply fearful in their own homes. People from all communities will feel safer knowing that the law now makes it harder to stir up hatred and violence against gay people."
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