UK: It is a crime to curse someone for being English

Allusions to someone's origin or religion can be considered racist in Great Britain. A court in the town of Hull has recently found a man guilty for using the term "English" to insult a traffic warden during an argument over a parking ticket.

Czech Radio has reported on the news from the Daily Telegraph. Iranian national Mohammed Aklaghi also lightly physically assaulted the officer in August 2015 when he made the remark, and according to the verdict, he committed racism.

Aklaghi's defense in court was that he himself had repeatedly been the target of racism during his seven years in the UK. He also claimed to have had absolutely no idea that it would be racist to use the term "English".

"You have been the target of racism yourself and you therefore know how unpleasant it is," Judge Frederick Rutherford said when he sentenced Aklaghi to 100 hours of community service and a small fine. The Iranian national must pay the legal fees of the individual who brought suit and compensation to him in the amount of about CZK 5 000 (EUR 185).