Muslim Leader Investigated for Homophobia

(London) Here's a case where the rules of political correctness will completely muffle Scotland Yard.

From the Independent Online:

The head of the Muslim Council of Britain is being investigated by police after denouncing homosexuality as immoral and claiming it spreads disease.

Sir Iqbal Sacranie also provoked outrage last week when he complained that civil partnerships risked damaging society's foundations.

Scotland Yard's community safety unit, which investigates homophobia and hate crime, is considering whether Sir Iqbal has broken telecommunications laws or the 1986 Public Order Act, which forbids the use of "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress or thereby."

Two things. First of all, in my opinion there's no way that Scotland Yard will prosecute Sacranie ... for anything. The Brits bend over for the Muslims all the time and they'll surely not go after one that's been knighted by the Queen.

Secondly, I don't see the homosexuals making too big a stink about Sacranie's remarks since they don't want to make themselves a primary target of Muslim hostility. Also, the gay and Muslim communities are essentially bedfellows pursuing defeat of mutual foes -- Christianity, Judaism, and President Bush. Don't get me wrong, it's not a conspiracy. It's just that the Islamists and the homosexuals generally end up on the same side of most issues.

All in all, I foresee Scotland Yard letting the Sacranie investigation die.

On a different note, the Brits really need to revisit their idea of free speech. The fact that insults are considered illegal according to British law is most troubling. Holy moly, a guy could get arrested and jailed for simply talking about his mother-in-law.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.