Anthony Small is Cleared of Encouraging Terrorism

[Ruthless-RKO]

Former British and Commonwealth light-middleweight titlist Anthony Small has been cleared of encouraging terrorism by a jury at the Old Bailey. The 36-year-old was hit with the charge after publishing a Youtube video in which he railed against Western big business, accusing them of being negative influences and supporters of the military.

The jury took three days to deliberate before deciding that the Muslim convert, who now goes by the name Abdul Haqq, had not contravened anti-terrorism laws via what he described as “light-hearted poetry”.

Small has often taken to social media to denounce the West—particularly the UK, US, and Israel—and riffed on Burger Kings signature patty by saying: “We are going to flame-grill you from the sky”. He has also expressed a desire to see the fall of the seats of power in the UK and US.

He said: “In fact, hijack an American-made Humvee and stick a black flag over the USA eagle...Soon there will be no more airstrikes in the name of democracy, while they drop bombs that are lethal instead it will be us coming to them with Islam and the Sharia and teach them there is no interfaith because tawheed [divine monotheism] and shirk [associating partners with God] will never be equal.”

However, Small’s sign off stating that he was not attempting to incite violence or acts of terrorism was a key part of his defence. In a written statement, he claimed that: ‘What I said was entirely within the bounds of lawful free speech’.

His defence also compared his actions to those of members of the Conservative Party in the 1980s who called for Nelson Mandela to be executed for his crimes. The former fighter’s defendant, David Emanuel, argued that Small’s talk was also merely “rhetoric”, saying: “Anthony Small's post wasn't supposed to be taken seriously.”

The prosecution, led by Karen Robinson, argued that Small was deliberately using inflammatory language and he knew that certain terms would be taken as a call to take violent action, but after a combined total of eight hours the jurors came to the conclusion that Small was not guilty of the charge and acquitted the Londoner.

[Stuarty]

Still a wank though

[Horse]

Good.

Now free Julian Assange.

[SticknMove]

He is not the Mahdi he's just a very naughty boy.

[Bennyblanco]

Love a bit of “light-hearted poetry”

[Stuarty]

He is not the Mahdi he's just a very naughty boy.

[littlepug]

Crikey thought he was older than 36

[TheCobra]

He's got terrorist attack written all over him, one of those where they say 'Was known to the police and relevant bodies etc, but slipped through the net'. I hope they keep a close on him, he's mental enough to do something.

[Horse]

Crikey thought he was older than 36

Why?

[littlepug]

Crikey thought he was older than 36

Why?

Probably just my bad memory mate, seems decades ago to me that he was british champ and thought he was pushing 30 back then, probably wrong on all counts though

[whiskey]

Another piss poor jury probably.

It's plainly obvious what his agenda is.

[Horse]

Another piss poor jury probably.

It's plainly obvious what his agenda is.

Maybe the jury believe in freedom of speech.

[TheCobra]

Another piss poor jury probably.

It's plainly obvious what his agenda is.

Maybe the jury believe in freedom of speech.

Personally I think it's gone too far all this freedom of speech, because it becomes freedom to be inciteful, freedom to be a twat in a public place or online and to push a message of hatred and to encourage attacks on the country you live in.

It used to be called treason, we need to bring in a similar offence. There's a line that needs to be drawn somewhere with all of this stuff when they are pushing hateful anti-west agendas.

[Horse]

Personally I think it's gone too far all this freedom of speech, because it becomes freedom to be inciteful, freedom to be a twat in a public place or online and to push a message of hatred and to encourage attacks on the country you live in.

It used to be called treason, we need to bring in a similar offence. There's a line that needs to be drawn somewhere with all of this stuff when they are pushing hateful anti-west agendas.

No, freedom of speech is the most important freedom and it must be protected.

The West is evil. There is nothing wrong with being against it right now.

[TheCobra]

Personally I think it's gone too far all this freedom of speech, because it becomes freedom to be inciteful, freedom to be a twat in a public place or online and to push a message of hatred and to encourage attacks on the country you live in.

It used to be called treason, we need to bring in a similar offence. There's a line that needs to be drawn somewhere with all of this stuff when they are pushing hateful anti-west agendas.

No, freedom of speech is the most important freedom and it must be protected.

The West is evil. There is nothing wrong with being against it right now.

Whatever. There is no justification at all for what you just said, in fact it's the typical bollocks that a person who has grown up in a safe western country but thinks they are being clever or enlightened would come out with.

I know that if I went to an Islamic country and started railing against Islam, against their government and saying that they all should die etc, then I know I would get DEALT with, in the hardest possible terms. And that would also be perfectly correct and justifiable by that country and it's people. That is how it SHOULD be.

I'm not a big fan of all this self-loathing lefty shite, supporting the 'causes' and spouting hatred for my own country, I just don't buy into that philosophy at all. Small is a crazy, dangerous man, if it wasn't Islam, he'd be finding something else to cling onto and spout his vile hatred.

[Horse]

Whatever. There is no justification at all for what you just said, in fact it's the typical bollocks that a person who has grown up in a safe western country but thinks they are being clever or enlightened would come out with.

Having freedom of speech is largely what makes it a safe Western country.

Taking it away will make our country more authoritarian, backwards and poor.

I know that if I went to an Islamic country and started railing against Islam, against their government and saying that they all should die etc, then I know I would get DEALT with, in the hardest possible terms. And that would also be perfectly correct and justifiable by that country and it's people. That is how it SHOULD be.

Wow, you admire backwards countries and want the UK to become one of them?

Incredible!

I'm not a big fan of all this self-loathing lefty shite, supporting the 'causes' and spouting hatred for my own country, I just don't buy into that philosophy at all.

So we're great are we? We don't start wars and kill loads of people?

We treat our own people well and everything is well run?

Our country is a disgrace and it is run by despicable pigs.

Small is a crazy, dangerous man, if it wasn't Islam, he'd be finding something else to cling onto and spout his vile hatred.

As should be his right, as a free man.

A hater of British freedom like you wouldn't get that.

Take your vile hatred of freedom and go live in Bongo-Bongo Land.

[Tuan_Jim]

Yet Tommy Robinson is in the clink.

[smiling assassin]

Yet Tommy Robinson is in the clink.

Came here to say the same thing mate. This country has lost the plot

[TheCobra]

Horse I honestly can't argue with people like you, you'll be the downfall of this country I promise you that. Anyone who sticks up for someone like Anthony Small and his ilk, for the sake of being 'smart' and trying to somehow take the moral high ground is a laughable peace of human excrement in my opinion.

[Tuan_Jim]

Horse I honestly can't argue with people like you, you'll be the downfall of this country I promise you that. Anyone who sticks up for someone like Anthony Small and his ilk, for the sake of being 'smart' and trying to somehow take the moral high ground is a laughable peace of human excrement in my opinion.

Horse is your typical politics layman who is yet to realise the extent of his ignorance of what's going on in this country right under his nose.

Keep telling us about our freedom of speech, horse.

https://goo.gl/images/N1WcV8

[funso banjo baby]

very dull non-story

[Horse]

Horse I honestly can't argue with people like you,

No, you can't. We are a league above you.

you'll be the downfall of this country I promise you that.

Do you?

I'd suggest that I'd be the opposite, as I have far higher standards than trash like you.

Anyone who sticks up for someone like Anthony Small and his ilk, for the sake of being 'smart' and trying to somehow take the moral high ground is a laughable peace of human excrement in my opinion.

I stand up for him because I believe in the freedom of speech.

Anyone who stands against freedom of speech is the piece of human excrement.

You seem to have a very low standard for Britain. I happen to believe that we have the potential to be No. 1.

You seem to envy third world crap holes who can disregard human rights and treat their citizens like garbage.

You are an absolute joke. People like you acting like patriots makes me want to puke my f***ing guts out.

[TheCobra]

You're just talking boring libtard shite horse. Another contrarian who wants an online argument. Boring.

[tobyh5]

I’m not saying I agree with all he said but fcuk me, I’m agreeing to a large extent with Horse

[danconnollyeire]

Another piss poor jury probably.

It's plainly obvious what his agenda is.

What’s his agenda got to do with anything? It’s not the jury’s fought. Would be literally illegal for them to make a judgement due to what they think his agenda is. They can only make a decision based on the evidence put forward. If he is guilty and the evidence ain’t good enough, that’s due to the prosecution not the jury