A retired police officer fined for a Facebook post about Islam should have his criminal record overturned because the message was political satire in the style of Monty Python or Private Eye, a court heard.
Stephen Gray spent 27 years with Cleveland Police. He was convicted at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court in April of making a grossly offensive message contrary to the Communications Act 2003, Daily Mail reported.
He was ordered to pay more than £1,000 in fines and costs. Gray had reposted an image on social media stating that people who eat bacon have a lower chance of marrying a nine-year-old.
The post was seen by only 15 to 20 followers. Next to the text was an image of a man in a religious headdress and a Nazi stormtrooper, Teesside Magistrates’ Court was told, though Gray said he only shared the post because of the text and did not see the images.
Gray was reported to the police by his next-door neighbour, Alexander Kurlandzki. A financial disagreement concerning bills for their neighboring properties in County Durham had previously involved both men.
Stating that the post was offensive and racist, Kurlandzki also reported experiencing racist harassment himself on account of his name. In a police statement, he acknowledged that he never saw the initial Facebook post directly, having instead received screenshots from another local resident.
At the hearing attempting to overturn the conviction, Gray said he made the post because he has two daughters and has fostered three girls. He wanted to bring to light child marriage and forced marriage.
“I look at these girls and I think they could be married young or abused and it doesn’t sit happily with me,” Gray, 65, said.
His barrister, John Beggs KC, argued that while some may have found it offensive, it was a satirical comment. Beggs pointed to the film Monty Python’s Life of Brian, released in 1979, which lampooned the birth of Christ and also offended many people on its release.
“If you read Private Eye magazine it is full of sarcasm about public officials,” Beggs said.
Beggs additionally pointed out that authentic religious writings state the prophet Muhammad married Aisha at age six and consummated the union when she was nine, which he described as an uncomfortable fact within Islam. Furthermore, he noted the presence of individuals practicing Islam in Britain who uphold the legitimacy of marriage and sexual relations with girls beginning at puberty.
“Just because it’s not nice society, Hampstead liberals, making the comment, a less couth comment than I might make, that somehow it’s a criminal offence,” Beggs added.
“We are entitled to be offensive in this country as we are in a liberal democracy with pluralism and tolerance,” Beggs said.
The Free Speech Union, established by journalist and Tory peer Toby Young, is backing Gray in his appeal. Recorder Bryan Cox KC, the presiding judge, announced that the appeal’s outcome will be delivered during a court session next month.
