Man posted offensive comment in online rant against mosque

A man said he wanted to resurrect Hitler in an online rant against plans for a new mosque in Perth.

Gavin Fowler made the hatefilled post on social media following news that the Scottish Defence League (SDL) planned to hold a demonstration against the development in the city.

The far-right group marched in Perth last September, but was far outnumbered by anti-fascist protesters.

At Perth Sheriff Court yesterday the 60-year-old admitted posting a grossly offensive religious comment on Facebook on August 4.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown told the court: “The post was in relation to the granting of planning permission for a mosque in Perth.

“There were demonstrations by certain groups and in that context this post was made.

“It said: ‘I would bring back Hitler to exterminate these vermin of the Earth’.”

Solicitor Billy Somerville described the SDL rally as a “damp squib”, adding: “It was expected to be hundreds but was less.”

Calling the post “highly offensive and inflammatory”, Sheriff Derek Reekie deferred sentence on Fowler, of Lumsden Crescent, Almondbank, until next month for reports.

Perth’s Muslim community was granted permission for a £1 million mosque on Jeanfield Road last year.

The Perth Islamic Society said it needed new accommodation for its fast-growing congregation.

The society is believed to have around 600 members across Perthshire.

Just weeks after the application was approved by Perth and Kinross Council, the SDL announced its city centre rally.

The group claimed to have “upset the local lefty politicians in Perth”, branding them “traitors”.

This led Edinburgh Anti-fascist Action (Edinburgh Antifa) to call on people across Scotland to join it and “smash” the demonstration.

Despite police fears that the rally and counter-protest would lead to trouble on the city’s streets, the September 10 event passed without major incident.