BNP leader cleared of racist charges

Nick Griffin, who faces re-trial, was cleared of saying Islam was a violent faith and describing Asians as evil.

The leader of the Far-Right British National Party Nick Griffin strutted out of court showing V-sign after being cleared of incitement of racial hate charges highlighting the stress on the freedom of speech, while Muslims were expressing outrage over dailies that published caricatures of the Prophet in asserting their right to freedom of expression.

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He was cleared of saying that Islam was a violent faith and of describing Asians as evil and asylum-seekers as cockroaches. Griffin and his party activist Mark Collett claimed they were merely exercising their right to free speech, despite the outrage their comments, recorded secretly by a BBC reporter posing as BNP activist, caused.

In a propaganda coup, which alarmed the main political parties, the two were cheered by their supporters emerged from the court. But their victory cries could be a bit hasty. The Crown Prosecution Service announced that it had decided to go for a re-trial.