Man held after hate mail stirs anger - The Rugby Observer

Man held after hate mail stirs anger

Rugby Editorial 18th Mar, 2015 Updated: 27th Oct, 2016   0

FURIOUS Rugby residents have blasted those behind ‘hate mail’ posted through their letterboxes.

The flyers, entitled ‘Deeds of Darkness’ or ‘Works of Darkness’, contain inflammatory attacks on lifestyles and practices such as divorce, homosexuality and non-Christian religions.

It claims all homosexuals are aspiring paedophiles, stating “the judgement of God has come upon (homosexuality) in the form of the AIDS/HIV virus”.

Another passage on divorce says it “wreaks havoc in society and is part and parcel off (sic) the plague of the ‘one-parent family’, which is a great evil”.




And its views on religion are equally incendiary, equating Judaism with Nazism and claiming “false religions” such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Humanism are “the Devil’s illusions”.

A Murray Road resident, who did not want to be named, said: “I was furious that someone had put this utterly vile document through my door. They’re so ‘brave’ with their assertions they don’t even name the organisation that produced it.


“I think it wins the prize for the worst thing to ever come through my letterbox. They’d better not come back.”

Another anonymous Murray Road resident was equally angry.

They said: “I would like to know who thinks they have the right to put this through people’s doors. What if one of my kids had got hold of it?”

Condemning the flyer as offensive, Rector of Rugby Rev Imogen Nay said she had a distressed phone call from a parishioner who received a copy.

The vicar of St Andrew’s Church said: “Many people seek to use the emotional power and force of religion for their own ends, and this is clearly a case in which someone or a group of individuals are seeking to use Christianity as a means of supporting their own irrational hatreds and fear.

She told The Observer: “Islam, Judaism and all the major faiths are religions that speak a message of peace and Godly love.

“I would like to reassure Rugby residents that God’s message of love extends to all, and that it is only in love and through love that we will build a society of peace and harmony.”

A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said a 53-year-old man from Corby, Northamptonshire had been arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred on the grounds of religion or sexual orientation, after receiving a number of complaints from residents.

The spokesman added: “It has been brought to our attention that a number of people have been displaying and sharing the leaflet on social media.

“We would advise against this on the grounds that you could be committing an offence under section 29 of the Public Order Act 1986.”

Ch Insp Emma Bastone added: “We will investigate any reports of material being distributed that any person perceives to be offensive on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, transgender or individual characteristic that makes someone appear different.”

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