Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Blair’s favourite “moderate Muslim” is only to be pitied for saying during an interview for BBC Radio Four’s PM programme on Jan 3rd:-

“If you look into the scientific evidence that has been available in terms of the various forms of other illnesses and diseases that are there, surely it points out that, where homosexuality is practised, there is a greater concern in that area.”

Asked if homosexuality was harmful to society, he said: “Certainly it is a practice that doesn’t, in terms of health, in terms of the moral issues that comes along in a society - it is. It is not acceptable.”

Inevitably, a complaint was received by police from some homosexual activist, and now Sacranie is under investigation for his role in “a homophobic incident”.

There are three messy little ways this unnecessary timebomb can explode, and each has something interesting in it.  The first way, of course, is very much the more likely to predict reality.

SCENARIO 1

Following a brief investigation by officers at West End Central police station Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, does not face prosecution for using “language of an abusive and insulting nature”.

The Daily Telegraph takes up the story:-

In a statement issued by Sir Iqbal he expressed his relief at the decision.  “This is a very good day for British Muslims,” he said.  “A prosecution would have sent entirely the wrong message and been potentially very provocative.”

A police spokeman said, “The complaint has been thoroughly investigated but it is the case that grounds for prosecution are absent.”

But Peter Tatchell, the gay activist and leading member of Outrage!, said, “While I do not like to see two oppressed minorities wasting time and energy fighting one another, I am concerned about the decision not to prosecute.  From today it is acceptable to say in public that homosexuality is morally wrong.”

“This will have clear discriminatory consequences.  It is a backwards step in the fight for equality.  If a leading Muslim can say homosexuality is immoral then so can anybody.”

“What has the fight for fairness and equality for gays and lesbians been about if people still claim moral grounds for discriminating against them.  It is time to take another look at the 1986 Act and at other, related legislation and give them some proper teeth.”

The Daily Telegraph contacted the Home Office to ascertain whether Ministers remained confident in the Act as it is currently drafted.  A spokesperson told us, “We are always open to representations from concerned parties on this as on any matter.  But we would be cautious of over-reacting to this one decision by West End Central police.  At this stage we do not see it as a reason to further strengthen or extend our laws against unacceptable speech.”

Scott McLean, acting leader of the British National Party, issued a press release saying, “If a Moslem leader can criticise homosexuality as immoral why can’t Nick Griffin and Mark Collett criticise Islam in the same terms?”

“Our legal team will be urgently seeking an explanation from the Home Office.  It is possible that it will have a bearing on the forthcoming appeal by Nick and Mark.”

SCENARIO 2

Following a lengthy investigation by officers at West End Central police station Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, is sent to trial but is found not guilty under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 of using “language of an abusive and insulting nature”.

The Daily Telegraph takes up the story:-

Standing on the steps of the courthouse a cleared and vindicated man, a triumphant Sir Iqbal said, “This is a very, very good day for British Muslims.  Justice has prevailed and we may speak the truth of Islam once again.  I am very grateful to the court and to our British justice.”

Mr Sacranie was cheered by a boisterous but good-natured crowd of supporters.  A few metres away a stunned group of gay activists led by Peter Tatchell, a leading member of Outrage!, maintained a silent protest.  Later Mr Tatchell issued a press release condemning the reaction to the verdict and calling on the government to re-examine existing legislation against unacceptable and oppresive speech.

“In the light of this verdict,” Mr Tatchell said, “we anticipate a heightening of aggression and discrimination from certain quarters towards gay and lesbian people.  It is vital for government to be aware of this and to put in place firm measures to counter it, including the revision to legislation which is clearly necessary.”

A spokesman for the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams warmly applauded the verdict of the court.  “Christians expressing a negative view of homosexuality have been falling foul of the very law under which Mr Sacranie was prosecuted.  We feel that a useful precedent has been set, and we should see rather less interference from minority politics in the profession of the Christian faith.”

Conservative Shadow Home Secretary David Davies said, “This verdict will draw a line under the extension of political correctness to our daily life.”

“From today every person in this country is a little freer to speak than he or she was yesterday.  It is very good news.”

Others have expressed the fear that far right groups will seek to take advantage of the verdict.  Mr Gerry Gable of Searchlight, an anti-fascist group, said, “A not guilty verdict will excite a lot of people on the facist fringe.  Sir Iqbal may find that his victory is a double-edged sword, as may all minorities.  It is a bad day for a forward-looking and free society”

Scott McLean, the acting leader of the BNP, accused Mr Gable of “twenty-five years of acting like a Marxist scarecrow.”

“But our focus is purely on Nick Griffin and Mark Collett who, had the Sacranie verdict been in at the time of their trial in January, might still be free men.  Our legal team will be looking at it very closely to see whether there are implications for Nick and Mark’s forthcoming appeal.  The summing up by the judge today was a model of judicial wisdom and fairness, and very far removed from that delivered to Nick and Mark’s jury.”

SCENARIO 3

Following a lengthy investigation by officers at West End Central police station Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, is sent to trial and is found guilty under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Despite the supportive interventions of Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sachs, Sir Iqbal is found to have used language of an abusive and insulting nature.  He is duly fined £100 - the maximum penalty is £1,000 - but afterwards insists to the press that he was only voicing the traditional position of his Islamic faith on a moral matter of importance to believers.

The Daily Telegraph takes up the story, reporting much anger and resentment among British Muslims at the verdict.  Mohammad Naseem, the most senior Islamic cleric in Birmingham, is reported saying:-

“Tony Blair is a liar and an unreliable witness.  He has stopped every Muslim in this country of ours from speaking religiously of evil.  Today we are all prisoners of conscience.”

Following a complaint from a member of the public, officers at West End Central police station are investigating whether an offence has been committed by Mr Naseem under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Peter Tatchell, the gay activist and leading member of Outrage!, said, “We take no pleasure from Sir Iqbal’s guilty verdict.  Muslims and gay men are equally oppressed and should be fighting ignorance and prejudice hand in hand.”

Few Labour politicians have been willing to be drawn on the issue.  But Stephen Pound, the outspoken Labour MP for Ealing North, remarked upon Mr Tatchell’s comments, “No winners?  He’s joking.  Try telling that to my gay Muslim friends.”

Concern at the verdict has also been expressed by the British Medical Association, which believes that it could set back the fight against HIV/AIDS.  A BMA spokesman said, “Doctors will think twice now about how frankly they can discuss certain behaviours common among gay men.  Suddenly everything has become much more difficult.  Perhaps it is time to take another look at the 1986 Act and at other, related legislation.”

Dr Liam Fox, former Conservative leadership contender and now Shadow Defence Minister, agreed.  “What, exactly, can you say about homosexuality now, short of “your place or mine?”  Truly, this prosecution has brought the law into disrepute and my sympathies are extended to Sir Iqbal Sacranie.”

The Daily Telegraph contacted the Home Office to ascertain whether Ministers remained confident in the Act as it is currently drafted.  A spokesperson told us, “We are always open to representations from concerned parties and will consider matters emerging from Sir Iqbal’s prosecution with an open mind.”

Scott McLean, the acting leader of the BNP, issued a press release claiming that a double standard had been employed and pointing to the long prison sentences handed down last January to Nick Griffin and Mark Collett.

The BNP press release said, “Now Sacranie has learned what it means to be forced into silence by Britain’s repressive laws against free speech.  He should be grateful that New Labour’s disloyal regime was too embarrassed by the whole episode to mete out the kind of viciousness to him it gladly meted out to Nick and Mark.

We demand to know why these two patriotic Englishmen languish in Armley Gaol as genuine prisoners of conscience while Sacranie is free tonight to return to his wife and children?”

Well, take you pick.  Like I said, I think the Sacranie affair will be dropped as quietly as possible.  But you never know.  We might see some fun yet.