A British man has been jailed for “stirring up hatred” at a non-violent anti-migration protest in Leeds, during which he allegedly mocked Muslims and made “slurs” against Allah.
Phil Hoban, 48, the founder of the “paedophile hunter” Predator Exposure group, has been sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to racial abuse towards pro-Palestinian counter-protesters during a non-violent anti-mass migration demonstration in Leeds on August 3rd, the BBC reports.
The court heard that during the protest, Hoban was seen imitating the way Muslims pray in “order to mock their religion” and had made supposed slurs about Allah. He was also reportedly seen rubbing his lips “towards a person of colour”.
Recorder of Leeds, Judge Guy Kearl KC told Hoban his conduct and that of his group “was designed to stir up hatred.”
The father of three told the court that he was not racist and claimed in his police interview that he was not chanting Allah but rather making a reference to a man named “Alan”.
The non-violent protest in Leeds came amid widespread unrest throughout the UK in the wake of the killing of three young girls in a mass stabbing attack in Southport last month allegedly by a second-generation Rwandan migrant.
