The fundamentalist preacher, who retired in 2014, sparked outrage when a controversial sermon, where he described Islam as “heathen” and “spawned in hell” was streamed online from Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle on the Shore Road in north Belfast.
“He expressed views about another religion, not in a personalized manner, but in a generalized way”. Instead, he sat in the public gallery behind his wife Margaret, supported by friends and other family members.
He contended: “This is one of the most freakish, peculiar cases I have ever seen before these courts”.
Mr Rice added: “There are approximately 1,000 people here, Pastor McConnell is a revered pastor in the Greater Belfast area”.
“He believes freedom of speech – he’s a member of the clergy in Northern Ireland – should mean he has every right to criticize Islam and other religions, just as Islamic clerics have the right to criticize him and Christian clerics”. “Pastor McConnell has strenuously denied any culpability, either morally or legally, in relation to these offenses and will continue to do”.
The court also heard how Pastor McConnell had rejected a lesser punishment and was taking a “principled stance” on the issue of freedom of expression.
Acknowledging the huge numbers who had turned out to support his client, Mr Rice called for the case to be moved to a larger courtroom in the future. I am not guilty.
McConnell also made clear that he does not have any animosity towards Muslims: “To every ordinary Muslim out there, I want to say to them that I love them, that I pray for them and if they are in need or in any bother, I am there for them”.
Ahead of the court hearing, McConnell said he was not afraid of going to prison, saying: “I will go for the sake of the Gospel”. “But when I am rid of all this I will be back preaching the same”.
The preacher agreed when asked if the prosecution was an absolute waste of taxpayers” money and said repeatedly that there was “no way” his sermon was motivated by “racism’.
He added: “They are spending thousands”. He said there had been a reaction of “anger” from atheists and “people who don’t go to church” about the PPS’ decision and said the prosecution was “ridiculous” and “stupid”.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Democratic Unionist Party MP Sammy Wilson criticized the pastor’s prosecution.
Accompanied by supporters, he then made his way inside and up to court number nine, on the second floor of the vast building.
He will be back in court on 3 September.
Vile evil Islam is a Disease, a sick blight, Mu-ham-mad was a perverted shit a queer little arab turd, a spawn of Satan… islam is one sick, vile, rotting pile of dirt like the scum who follow it.
ReplyI think the pastor is correct in thinking that isil and anything to do with that religion is evil how can you not. If he goes to prison it will be an injustice and waste of tax payers money and i think the majority of the world would agree. They are evil and are spawned by the devil are you going to throw me in jail for saying that too.
ReplyHe shouldn’t say bad things about Muslims or anyone
Replyelse.
As Muslim clerics are not allowed to say anything wrong about Christians .
These bad behaviour will breed hearted in a very fragile society.
As what comes around goes around.
We can’t apply the law on someone and ignore it on someone else.