THE sentencing of eight anti-Islam far right protesters over violent disorder offences had to be suspended after one of them demanded to be updated on the Sydney cafe siege.
Judge Richard Bond was forced to temporarily adjourn the sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court after being verbally abused, urged to “pass proper sentences†on Islamic extremists, and asked: “Any news on the Australian hostages?â€
Some of the defendants walked around the dock at Birmingham Crown Court during the outbursts, which also included chants of “No surrender to the Talibanâ€.
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Judge Bond had already sentenced three of the English Defence League men when one of them shouted “If there were proper sentences for extremists, the EDL wouldn’t be here†and another asked for news of events in Australia.
The judge then left the courtroom for several minutes, before returning to continue to address the defendants and explain their sentences.
The case related to violent scenes at an EDL rally in Birmingham in July 2013.
One man when asked if he had any medical condition he answered he had “Islamophobiaâ€. The men were arrested after chanting anti-Islamist slogans and burning Muslim caps and a Pakistani flag before violently clashing with police trying to restore order.
The eight were eventually sentenced for between 18 months and two years.
About 200 EDL supporters were involved in the violence in the Broad Street and Centenary Square areas of Birmingham, which lasted for around two hours and left 30 officers injured.