Police accused of bringing 'Sharia law to British streets' after naming man who set fire to Koran

A police statement on Saturday had warned of the "deep concern this will cause within some of our diverse communities" - then, on Monday, the force named the man.

A victim impact statement by Fahad Iqbal, who tried to intervene in the burning, was read in court on Monday.

It said: "I was quite shocked, disgusted and offended. I'm a Muslim. I still can't believe someone would do this... When he began to burn the Koran my heart was about to break out. This is the most emotion I have ever felt."

But the police's approach to the case has drawn serious fire.

Steven Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, told The Telegraph: "The case brings us perilously close to reinstating blasphemy laws. The police now appear to be enforcing Sharia law on the streets of Britain."

While Free Speech Union (FSU) director and new Tory peer Lord Toby Young wrote to Greater Manchester Police, warning that the burning "should never have been a police matter" while naming the man "may well have placed him in great jeopardy".

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A FSU statement also warned: "Given the well-documented dangers faced by those accused of blasphemy... The Free Speech Union believes GMP should have liaised with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) before making these details public.

"The failure to do so will almost certainly result in a direct threat to his life."

"While legal mechanisms are increasingly used to suppress religiously offensive speech, the parallel threat of mob violence ensures that even those who escape prosecution face severe consequences," the FSU added, referencing Swedish anti-Islam activist Salwan Momika and the Batley Grammar School teacher who was forced into hiding.

The man later pleaded guilty to a single charge of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment against Iqbal.

He told Manchester Magistrates' Court that his daughter's death in the Israeli conflict had affected his mental health - and had burned the book in solidarity with Momika, who was recently murdered after burning a Koran.

District Judge Margaret McCormack asked for a pre-sentence report and adjourned sentencing - and told Frost she was sorry for the loss of his daughter.

But McCormack added: "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."