Churchburner behind bars

An Asian youth who torched a Christian church in a £250,000 blaze in Lancashire during the fire-fighters' strike is behind bars for 18 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Raja Munawwar (18) left the Christ Church Chapel in Every Street, Nelson, a shell, in what his lawyer described as "one moment of madness," but a judge slammed as a "professional arson attack". The court was told how a Green Goddess crew based at Colne Police Station was subjected to offensive taunts when they turned up to fight the blaze in November.

Regular visitors to our site will not be surprised to learn that this shocking story didn't make it to the BBC "News at Ten", Channel 4 News or indeed the front pages of the national daily papers. Even in the home town newspaper where the incident occured, the "Nelson Leader" which was brave enough to tell the tale, it was condemned to a page 10 slot. If the tables were turned and a young white person was convicted of attacking a mosque, the news would indeed make the headlines, that is guaranteed. Attacking a mosque, a church and any other place of worship is a thoroughly nasty deed and people of all peaceful faiths should allow total freedom of religious expression within those holy places of worship.

This particular arson attack which left the church a gutted shell had some very nasty anti-British racist and potentially terrorist overtones as the "Nelson Leader" goes on to report.

Mr. Roger Green (prosecuting) said the church was used by the local Roman Catholic and Methodist communities as well as for a number of local activities. A number of Asian youths were setting fire to rubbish skips in the area, but the defendant, although among them, was not responsible. An Army unit with "rudimentary equipment was called to the church blaze and was confroned with hostile comments such as "I am going to get my AK 47 and kill you," and "Bin Laden is going to get you."

Ethnic cleansing?

The attack appears to have been incited by a local Muslim elder, in what can only be described as an attempt to start the ethnic cleansing of Nelson, and why "Mr. M" isn't likewise before the court remains a mystery.

An older man only referred to as "Mr M". had been inciting others to burn down the church and was heard telling others to kick the door in.
Munawwar forced entry into the premises and took £5.20 from the telephone box. "Mr M". then suggested the cash be used to buy petrol from a nearby garage.

Mr. Green said the defendant, wearing gloves, went into the church with the fuel and started at least two seats of fire. The Green Goddess crew found a number of people, mostly young Asian males, standing around the area and, as they got out of their vehicle, they heard shouts of: "Where's your Jesus now?"

The Court Recorder, John Rose told him (as the defendant burst into tears) "Your tears are shed for yourself. You should be shedding them for those deprived of a place in which to worship their God. The same you would undoubtedly shed if it was a house in which you worshipped your God."
The judge said in law Munawwar was an adult and his behaviour could not be seen as childishness or a prank. He went on: "It was, in my view, a wicked act not least because it attacked a house of prayer for at least two denominations of the Christian religion."

Recorder Rose, who had been told by the defendant's solicitor that Munawwar did not know the building was a church, added he rejected that suggestion.

After passing sentence, the judge ordered that the photos of the gutted premises be taken to see the defendant in the cells and that he look at them one by one. He went on: "While you are serving your sentence, I want you to think every day of the devastation you caused."


So much for the benefits of cultural enrichment in our diverse society!