Greater Manchester Police have been accused of endangering a man's safety by publicly naming him after he burned a Koran in Manchester.
Speaking to GB News, Free Speech Union's Director of Case Management Dr Ben Jones revealed they have tracked the man down and arranged for him to receive "personal safety", following the incident.
Discussing the case on the People's Channel, Dr Jones told Nigel Farage that the man's "name, date of birth and borough of residence" were shared on social media platform X.
Dr Jones argued that the man should "not have been arrested in the first place", as "burning the Koran is not a crime".
Dr Ben Jones defended the man after he was arrested for burning the Koran in Manchester
X / GB News
Jones explained: "We've spent the last few days trying to track this man down. We've found him, we have arranged for him to have legal assistance, and we've also arranged for steps to be taken to ensure his physical safety, which we of course, cannot discuss now.
"The College of Policing Guidance is absolutely clear that where there is an exceptional and legitimate reason not to name somebody because of who risk is charged because of risk, they should not be named."
Detailing the case, Dr Jones affirmed that risking the man's safety by publishing his details "sets an atrocious precedent".
He claimed: "The public interest in this case is that this man, firstly, should not have been arrested to begin with, because burning a Koran is not a crime. Certainly, he should not have been charged.
A 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a 'racially aggravated public order offence' over the weekend for burning the Muslim holy bookX"This is what we are hoping to clear up with the legal help that we've provided for him. They have prosecuted him under the Public Order Act for a supposedly racially aggravated public order offence. And this has set an atrocious precedent."
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He added: "And when you look at what the judge has said in in court the other day, that the feelings essentially of Muslims must be accorded particular respect, that Britain is a tolerant country, but we must not tolerate this.
"It's an atrocious precedent. And as soon as you head down this path, you are only going to encourage fanaticism."
Reacting to the case, host Nigel Farage stated: "You can abuse Christianity, you can set fire to the Bible, nothing will happen to you. You will come to no harm.
"And yet, if you set fire to the Koran and you do it in Manchester, close to the memorial to those that died in the Manchester Arena, you will find yourself in very deep trouble with the law. Do you see why it's two-tier? People think it's two-tier."
Dr Jones told GB News that the man 'should not have been arrested in the first place'
GB News
District Judge Margaret McCormack told the man in court: "The Koran is a sacred book to Muslims and treating it as you did is going to cause extreme distress. This is a tolerant country, but we just do not tolerate this behaviour."
She bailed the man on the condition he does not post anything further on social media and will sentence him on April 29.
Greater Manchester Police's Assistant Chief Constable Stephanie Parker said: "We made a swift arrest at the time and recognise the right people have for freedom of expression.
"But when this crosses into intimidation to cause harm or distress we will always look to take action when it is reported to us."
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