Man charged over ‘gay-free zone’ stickers

Gay-Free Zone stickers appeared in Shoreditch and Stoke Newington earlier this year

An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with incidents between Friday 11 and Monday 14 February when homophobic stickers were found at four East End locations including one at Bow Church DLR station, two in Whitechapel and one on a bus.

Mohammed Hasnath, of Leamouth, Tower Hamlets, has been charged under section 5 of the Public Order Act, which relates to intentional harassment, alarm or distress.

Such stickers had been posted up earlier this year in parts of Hackney and Tower Hamlets. They feature a rainbow flag with a red line through it with the message: “Arise and warn. Gay-free zone. And Fear Allah; verily Allah is severe in punishment.”

18 year-old Hasnath, who is currently on bail, will next appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 1 June.

The Association of British Muslims has condemned the stickers, stating: “There is nothing in the Qur’an against LGBT people. Allah has honoured every son [and] daughter of Adam, so such a hateful message is not only morally and ethically wrong but actually unislamic.”

Stickers declare ‘gay-free zone’ in Hackney

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