Man Threatens to Burn Down Wrexham Mosque
Categories: Latest News
Wednesday December 08 2010
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The Wrexham Leader today reports of a man being issued with 200 hours unpaid work and attending an offending behaviour programme for threatening two British Muslims outside a mosque in Wrexham and threatening to burn down the mosque. |
From the Leader:
“David Jared Evans, 36, sent texts to people suggesting a visit to the mosque in the former Miner’s Institute and a demonstration and said flare throwers made ‘good legal weapons’.”
“Evans received a suspended sentence after he admitted using threatening, abusive and insulting language and behaviour towards Abdulla Anwar which was racially and religiously aggravated. He had a similar previous conviction in 2006 after he abused a black woman.”
”The judge said Mr Anwar and a colleague had approached Evans outside the mosque and offered him help.”
”’For that, they were subjected to a torrent of disgraceful abuse,’ the judge said.”
”The comments were religiously and racially aggravated, persistent and escalated to threats of violence.”
“He saw the two men outside and said to them: ‘This is a disgrace, you using this place. You’re probably just making your bombs here.’”
“Evans then used a racist term and asked them why they did not go home. Both men had been born in the United Kingdom.”
“Mr Anwar, who was left feeling frustrated and distressed, took a photograph of Evans and the defendant did likewise.”
“When Mr Anwar refused to give Evans his name, he said: “I will be back with my friends. We will give you a good seeing to,” and before leaving threatened to set the place on fire.”
This incident is one of many in which Muslim institutions have been the focal point of expressions of anti-Muslim prejudice. Recent examples of the targeting of Muslim buildings include an arson attack on a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent on Monday and Portsmouth Muslim academy being the target of hate crimes two weeks ago.