AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): A British court has sentenced three men to prison for carrying out Islamophobic acts in East London, including placing a pig’s head and writing anti-Muslim graffiti outside buildings associated with the Muslim community.
The incident took place in Rainham in July last year. Prosecutors said one of the men left pig body parts outside several community centers, including a children’s facility, the Royal Youth Center, and Harris Academy. The two others were involved in related acts of vandalism motivated by religious hostility.
Lewis Oakley, Chief Prosecutor for England, emphasized that the crimes were “deliberate and motivated by religious hatred.”
The court sentenced two of the offenders to 32 months in prison each, while the third received a 25-month sentence. All three pleaded guilty to property damage driven by religious prejudice.
The case highlights growing concern over Islamophobic hate crimes in the United Kingdom and the judiciary’s increasing readiness to impose significant penalties. Rights advocates say the verdict sends a strong message that religiously motivated hate crimes will not be tolerated, even as Muslim communities across the country continue to report rising levels of intimidation, vandalism, and harassment.
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