UK: 'Punish a Muslim Day' letter suspect charged

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – A man accused of posting Islamophobic letters across the U.K. was charged by British authorities Friday with soliciting murder.

David Parnham from Lincoln in the East Midlands, arrested earlier this week, faces two counts of sending a number of letters promoting a so-called “Punish a Muslim Day,” encouraging the commission of one or more of a number of offenses.

“The 35-year-old from Lincoln was arrested on suspicion of soliciting to murder, sending a hoax noxious substance and threatening letters… The letters boast of horrific ‘rewards’ if people carry out attacks on Muslims, including torture, burning down mosques and throwing acid in peoples’ faces,” a statement on Parnham's arrest said.

'“They [letters] were posted through letterboxes across England, including West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Leicestershire and London.”

Parnham also faces five counts of sending a substance with the intention of inducing in a person a belief that it is likely to contain a noxious substance and five counts of sending a number of letters conveying a threat.

The letter, announcing a so-called “Punish a Muslim Day,” called on people to attacks Muslims in the form of verbal abuse, removing a woman’s hijab or headscarf, physical assault "using gun, knife, vehicle or otherwise,” or “burning or bombing a mosque.”

The letter was posted to various addresses in March, and was also circulated on messaging service WhatsApp as well as social media platforms.

The letter showed a scale of “points” based on the action taken against Muslims.

Parnham will appear at the Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday.