Count Dankula found guilty of hate crime

[Torto]

Free speech in the UK isn't in trouble, it is now dead.

Following the UK's recent decision to block three right wing activists from entering the country for fear they would "spread hate speech", a Scottish court has just found online comedian Count Dankula guilty of hate crimes.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a8265301.html

For those unaware, Count Dankula uploaded a video to youtube of his girlfriends dog doing Nazi salutes. The video, while distasteful, went viral and was watched over 3 million times before being pulled. Despite receiving no official complaint, Count Dankula (Mark Meechan) was arrested and charged for hate crime by Scottish authorities for:

sending by "means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character".

It was a fucking video of a dog raising it's paw. Menacing? Seriously???

Comedians in the UK beware, try and be edgy on stage and find yourself in prison. This is an outrage and one of the greatest hits to free speech I can remember. Meechan will be sentenced in April and potentially faces time in prison.

[Deleted]

This was a good country before we let animals have their say.

[Heladys]

Oh boohoo let's pour out a drink for shitheads.

[derpkitteh]

free speech just isn't respected in the UK.

if you value free speech, move to the US. you'll have issues with healthcare, but at least you're not a prisoner in your own mind.

[Elegiac]

The real crime was having a name like 'Count Dankula'.

[Everwake]

While they're at it, they should just start arresting people for lampooning the government. They can call it an "anti-bullying" initiative to protect their MPs.

[Deleted]

Oh boohoo let's pour out a drink for shitheads.

There is this poem that's very appropriate here:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Uncontroversial speech does not need protection.

[Dreknar20]

well its been a few generations since Winston Churchill. Bloodlines been a bit diluted.

[Vathoren]

free speech just isn't respected in the UK.

if you value free speech, move to the US. you'll have issues with healthcare, but at least you're not a prisoner in your own mind.

Harder than it sounds, currently in the process myself. Y'all are good people though.

On topic: This is truly troubling. His stated intent in the video is being completely disregarded and it is the prosecutor's interpretation of it that has resulted in this verdict. The precedent this sets is dystopian nightmare rocket-fuel. The one saving grace is that the Scottish court system, though it has a degree of autonomy, is ultimately a subordinate to the Supreme Court (based in England). Should Dankula appeal and the matter be taken further, it may well have a different outcome, as Supreme Court rulings tend to take a much broader reasoning in it's decisions.

[Torto]

Those of you living in the UK should be contacting your local MP. Speak up now while you can, before you are silenced.

[MOD VIDEO SNIP] We are not turning this thread into a call to arms. That is against our rules. You can discuss things as you please, but call to arms videos, polls, website links and similar are NOT okay.

[Glnger]

First they came for "countdankula"..... Rofl

[Sykol]

Oh boohoo let's pour out a drink for shitheads.

You want to jail somebody for their girlfriend's dog lifting its paw? Would cutting someone off in traffic be a public beheading in your world?

[Torto]

There's a reason why most dystopian movies take place in the UK.

1984 was supposed to be fiction, not a training manual.

[Liftinmammals]

People gotta grow the fuck up. Is what it is though. Cheers!

[Exeris]

I think they charged the neighbor also, for calling him a Nazi.

[Zelk]

wow can't believe the video where a a man repeatedly says gas the jews is considered hate speech now

[Independent voter]

How will they rehabilitate the dog?

[Derpules]

wow can't believe the video where a a man repeatedly says gas the jews is considered hate speech now

Context matters. The video opened with him explaining he's trying to make his girlfriends dog look evil, followed by saying distasteful/fucked up shit. The ludicrousness of the dog being the culprit was the point of the video, not that he (the person) said them with intent.

In the words of PhillyD "Are nazi's horrible? Yes, fuck them. Are people who support nazi's horrible? Yes, fuck them. But people making a nazi joke, really?"

First 4 minutes if anyone is interested:

[Zelk]

Context matters. The video opened with him explaining he's trying to make his girlfriends dog look evil, followed by saying distasteful/fucked up shit. The ludicrousness of the dog being the culprit was the point of the video, not that he (the person) said them with intent.

He says gas the jews 23 times. There's no excuse.

[Torto]

wow can't believe the video where a a man repeatedly says gas the jews is considered hate speech now

So you agree with him being arrested and convicted?