Furious row breaks out on GB News as guest DEFENDS arrest for burning Koran: ‘It’s a free society!’

The debate erupted after Tom questioned why a man in Manchester should not be permitted to burn his own copy of the Koran.

Former Labour spokesperson James Mathewson strongly opposed this view, drawing parallels with historical book burnings.

GB News host Tom Harwood fumed: "A man was arrested in Manchester after he burned a Koran, not anyone else's Koran. His Koran that he owned. Why should he not be able to burn a Koran?

Former Labour spokesperson James Mathewson told GB News responded: "Because you're burning books. Burning books is a very dangerous practise."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• 'They always find offence!' Academics forced to 'self-censor' on Hamas and trans debate as students 'dictate' lectures
• Students self-censoring out of fear of being cancelled in 'chilling effect' on free speech - 'Silenced by woke ideology!'
• Pub customers could be BANNED from talking about contentious issues such as trans rights

Tom said: " Burning your own property is your right as a freeborn Englishman. "

Mathewson said: "Well, the Nuremberg burning book rallies, I mean, were they were they great? Were they legal? They were legal at the time in Germany. Did you support them, Tom?"

Tom said: "This is a fundamental point. Just because I support the right of anyone to burn a British flag that they own."

He added: "It is a speech act, what a wonderful example of American free speech rights.

"A heinous act that I deplore but it is legal. In the same way that burning any religious book is obviously a heinous act, it is morally cowardice but my goodness me in a free society should it not be legal?"

Mathewson said: "In a society where people are facing increased dangers to their own safety because of targeting of those groups, the Koran represents as Muslims and the rise of Islamophobic crimes and hatred in the streets is clear.

"It would be the same for somebody burning a copy of the Torah. I am not religious. I'm an atheist and I don't believe in any religious book. I don't hold them sacred at all."

Tom said: "But you clearly do, if you think it should be illegal."

The debate follows a recent case in Manchester where a man pleaded guilty to racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment or alarm after burning a Koran on social media.

The defendant claimed he was showing solidarity with Salwan Momika, who was murdered in Sweden last week ahead of his criminal trial for burning four Korans.

Court proceedings revealed the defendant was suffering from poor mental health following the death of his daughter in the Gaza war.

Greater Manchester Police's decision to name the defendant on social media has drawn criticism from Humanists UK, who expressed serious concerns about his long-term safety.