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| Man guilty of hate crime for filming pug's 'Nazi salutes' | Man guilty of hate crime for filming pug's 'Nazi salutes' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A man who filmed a pet dog giving Nazi salutes before putting the footage on YouTube has been convicted of committing a hate crime. | A man who filmed a pet dog giving Nazi salutes before putting the footage on YouTube has been convicted of committing a hate crime. |
| Mark Meechan, 30, recorded his girlfriend's pug, Buddha, responding to statements such as "gas the Jews" and "Sieg Heil" by raising its paw. | Mark Meechan, 30, recorded his girlfriend's pug, Buddha, responding to statements such as "gas the Jews" and "Sieg Heil" by raising its paw. |
| But police were alerted and he was arrested for allegedly committing a hate crime. | But police were alerted and he was arrested for allegedly committing a hate crime. |
| The original clip had been viewed more than three million times on YouTube. | The original clip had been viewed more than three million times on YouTube. |
| Grossly offensive | Grossly offensive |
| Meechan, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, went on trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court where he denied any wrong doing. | Meechan, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, went on trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court where he denied any wrong doing. |
| He insisted he made the video, which was posted in April 2016, to annoy his girlfriend Suzanne Kelly, 29. | He insisted he made the video, which was posted in April 2016, to annoy his girlfriend Suzanne Kelly, 29. |
| But Sheriff Derek O'Carroll found him guilty of a charge under the Communications Act that he posted a video on social media and YouTube which was grossly offensive because it was "anti-semitic and racist in nature" and was aggravated by religious prejudice. | But Sheriff Derek O'Carroll found him guilty of a charge under the Communications Act that he posted a video on social media and YouTube which was grossly offensive because it was "anti-semitic and racist in nature" and was aggravated by religious prejudice. |
| Sheriff O'Carroll told the court he did not believe Meechan had made the video only to annoy his girlfriend and ruled it was anti-Semitic. | Sheriff O'Carroll told the court he did not believe Meechan had made the video only to annoy his girlfriend and ruled it was anti-Semitic. |
| He also said he believed Meechan - who was supported at court by Tommy Robinson, former leader of far-right group the English Defence League (EDL) - left the video on YouTube to drive traffic to other material he had on there. | |
| He added: "In my view it is a reasonable conclusion that the video is grossly offensive | He added: "In my view it is a reasonable conclusion that the video is grossly offensive |
| "The description of the video as humorous is no magic wand. | "The description of the video as humorous is no magic wand. |
| "This court has taken the freedom of expression into consideration. | "This court has taken the freedom of expression into consideration. |
| "But the right to freedom of expression also comes with responsibility." | "But the right to freedom of expression also comes with responsibility." |
| 'Intelligent and articulate' | 'Intelligent and articulate' |
| Sheriff O'Carroll said Meehan was "quite obviously an intelligent and articulate man". | Sheriff O'Carroll said Meehan was "quite obviously an intelligent and articulate man". |
| But he added: "The accused knew that the material was offensive and knew why it was offensive. | But he added: "The accused knew that the material was offensive and knew why it was offensive. |
| "Despite that the accused made a video containing anti-Semitic content and he would have known it was grossly offensive to many Jewish people." | "Despite that the accused made a video containing anti-Semitic content and he would have known it was grossly offensive to many Jewish people." |
| Ross Brown, defending, said Meechan had only intended the video to be seen by a small group of friends and to annoy his girlfriend. | Ross Brown, defending, said Meechan had only intended the video to be seen by a small group of friends and to annoy his girlfriend. |
| He said the material had been leaked and gone viral but Police Scotland then wrongly pursued Meechan despite his later videos attempting to "set the record straight". | He said the material had been leaked and gone viral but Police Scotland then wrongly pursued Meechan despite his later videos attempting to "set the record straight". |
| Mr Brown said: "His girlfriend testified that Mr Meechan had never made known to her any any anti-Semitic views whatsoever. | Mr Brown said: "His girlfriend testified that Mr Meechan had never made known to her any any anti-Semitic views whatsoever. |
| "The accused possesses both tolerant and liberal views. | "The accused possesses both tolerant and liberal views. |
| "His girlfriend is in no doubt it was an example of his sense of humour." | "His girlfriend is in no doubt it was an example of his sense of humour." |
| Famous support | Famous support |
| Mr Brown told the court it was wrong to focus on the phrase "gas the Jews" when it had been taken out of context of the whole video. | Mr Brown told the court it was wrong to focus on the phrase "gas the Jews" when it had been taken out of context of the whole video. |
| He claimed Jewish comedian David Baddiel had voiced his support for Meechan and had asked for him to walk free. | He claimed Jewish comedian David Baddiel had voiced his support for Meechan and had asked for him to walk free. |
| He added: "I can see that the video may not be to everyone's taste. | He added: "I can see that the video may not be to everyone's taste. |
| "Others may be able to see the comedic or satirical element to it. | "Others may be able to see the comedic or satirical element to it. |
| "The court should seek to acquit Mr Meechan for no other reason but to show it is 2018 and not 1984." | "The court should seek to acquit Mr Meechan for no other reason but to show it is 2018 and not 1984." |
| Prosecutors had earlier asked for Meechan to be convicted and branded the video "an odious criminal act that was dressed up to look like a joke." | Prosecutors had earlier asked for Meechan to be convicted and branded the video "an odious criminal act that was dressed up to look like a joke." |
| Comedian Ricky Gervais took to Twitter to comment on the case after the verdict. | Comedian Ricky Gervais took to Twitter to comment on the case after the verdict. |
| He tweeted: "A man has been convicted in a UK court of making a joke that was deemed 'grossly offensive'. | He tweeted: "A man has been convicted in a UK court of making a joke that was deemed 'grossly offensive'. |
| "If you don't believe in a person's right to say things that you might find 'grossly offensive', then you don't believe in Freedom of Speech." | "If you don't believe in a person's right to say things that you might find 'grossly offensive', then you don't believe in Freedom of Speech." |