A man from Trafford has pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence after burning a copy of the Quran in an incident that was live-streamed on social media.
Martin Frost, 47, was filmed holding an Israeli flag before tearing out pages from the Islamic holy book and setting them on fire in Manchester on Saturday, February 1. The event, which was pre-announced online, was streamed live on social media, as revealed in Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that Frost’s actions were triggered by the tragic loss of his daughter in the ongoing Israeli conflict, which significantly affected his mental health.
Frost, a resident of Barkway Road in Stretford, Greater Manchester, admitted to a charge of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm, or distress. He was accused of displaying material that was deemed threatening, abusive, or insulting, causing offense to Fahad Iqbal and others.
Robin Lynch, prosecuting, detailed how a group of people had gathered near the Glade of Light memorial, a tribute to the 22 victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. As Frost began ripping out pages from the Quran, a bystander attempted to stop him. However, he reportedly shouted, “This is what I think of your Quran Islam has no place in civil society.”
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The court heard that he then tore out additional pages, claiming they contained references to paedophilia, and set them alight before discarding the book into a nearby river. Authorities arrested Frost upon their arrival.
During police questioning, Frost stated he was acting in solidarity with a Swedish activist who was recently killed after burning a Quran.
A victim impact statement from the individual who tried to intervene expressed deep distress, saying, “I was shocked, disgusted, and offended. As a Muslim, I couldn’t believe someone would do this. When he began to burn the Quran, my heart was breaking.”
Defending Frost, solicitor Zoe Earle stated that he was visibly distressed by the harm he had caused and emphasized his declining mental health over the past six months, exacerbated by his daughter’s death.
The court was informed that Frost had 20 previous convictions for 47 offences, though none were of a similar nature.
Judge Margaret McCormack, while expressing condolences for Frost’s loss, stressed the gravity of his actions. “The Quran is a sacred text to millions, and your treatment of it has undoubtedly caused immense distress. The UK is a tolerant country, but this kind of behavior is not acceptable.”
The judge ordered a pre-sentence report before making a final ruling. Meanwhile, Frost was released on bail under the condition that he refrains from posting further content on social media. His sentencing is scheduled for April 29.