Arrested and charged with inciting hatred for pictures of poppy burning posted to facebook.
Three teenagers in Northern Ireland have been up in court for burning poppies. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking37.html
They were arrested and charged with incitement to hatred by the PSNI (Police Service Of Northern Ireland) for pictures they posted on facebook of themselves burning poppies. This is in the context of poppies worn in remembrance of the fallen of the Great War which is a popular activity in the UK and other countries in the Commonwealth. I'm guessing the kids who did this were from a Nationalist/Republican background as they'd be less likely to wear the poppy even though it isn't really meant to be a political symbol.
What the kids did was assholish, and I don't condone it. However, I think incitement to hatred charges are a bit much. It is, I suppose akin to burning a country's flag, which again I think is usually assholish but shouldn't be illegal IMHO. What do you folks think? Should these kids have been charged or not?