It was a “mistake,” not a jihad. Cut Babul Islam some slack. After all, I mistakenly beat someone up just the other day. Mistakes will be made. “Youth walks free after gang attack on priest,” by Suzy Austin in Metro.co.uk, June 24 (thanks to Shirley):
A drunken teenager who beat up a priest walked free yesterday after the judge accepted the attack was a ‘one-off mistake’.
Babul Islam was one of three Asian youths who attacked Canon Michael Ainsworth in his churchyard.
The 19-year-old punched the vicar in the head while others kicked him ‘ one allegedly shouting ‘f*****g priest’ ‘ only stopping when passers-by intervened….
The shop assistant admitted being extremely drunk during the attack but denied it was religiously-motivated ‘ a claim upheld by Judge Glenn Brasse.
Islam and the two other assailants set upon Mr Ainsworth in March, leaving him with cuts and bruises….
Islam, of nearby Limehouse, deserved a prison term for his crimes, Judge Brasse told him at Snaresbrook Crown Court. But he was told ‘under the circumstances’ a four-month suspended sentence, paying his victim £1,000 and 100 hours of unpaid work would suffice.
In the days following the attack, the Rev Alan Green, Dean of Tower Hamlets, said there were ‘faith hate’ incidents in the area every month.
But they’re not religiously motivated, doncha know. Now, if an Anglican attacked an imam — that would be religiously motivated. But not this.