A group of Muslim extremists who screamed 'rapists' and 'murderers' at British soldiers went unpunished yesterday - and called their conviction 'a badge of honour'.The five were given conditional discharges for shouting 'baby killers' and 'terrorists' and waving placards at hundreds of soldiers returning from Iraq.
Outside court they were surrounded by a mob of supporters and boasted they would do the same again, saying they wanted to see sharia law in Britain.
The men, all of whom are on benefits, were each ordered to pay £500 in costs towards the prosecution. Outside the court, they defiantly declared: 'The taxpayer paid for this court case. The taxpayer will pay for the fines too out of benefits'.
Surrounded by other followers of Islam4UK - the group led by so-called preacher of hate Anjem Choudary - they said they would protest again.
Their backers waved a banner saying: 'Islam will dominate the world. Freedom can go to hell'.
Some of the group members were linked to an egg attack on Tory peer Baroness Warsi when she visited Luton two months ago.
The peer - who was hit by at least one of the eggs - faced a group of shouting protesters telling her that she was not a proper Muslim. No one was charged.
During their six-day trial, the men argued they were exercising their right to freedom of speech and had been telling the truth about the conduct of British forces in Iraq......
Although the offence carries a maximum fine of £1,000, the five were merely given a conditional discharge for two years by District Judge Carolyn Mellanby, which means if they are found guilty of anything else this conviction will be taken into account.
The protesters had refused to stand for the judge as she entered and left court. But she yesterday said she did not wish to 'set a precedent' by charging them with contempt of court because of this.
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