Judge issues warning to BNP chief

Mr Griffin denies four counts of race hate charges

British National Party leader Nick Griffin has been warned by a judge not to make political statements during his trial on race-hate charges.

Mr Griffin and BNP member Mark Collett deny intending to stir up racial hatred in speeches in West Yorkshire in 2004.

The jury at Leeds Crown Court was given copies of extracts from the Koran which Mr Griffin discussed in detail.

Judge Norman Jones twice intervened to remind Mr Griffin he was not making a speech at a political meeting.

Mr Griffin said he wanted the jury to read sections of the Koran as he claimed Islam was incompatible with British democracy.

Koran 'misquoted'

After quoting from chapters of the text, Griffin said the verses justified "the epidemic of anti-white racist attacks and also attacks on Sikhs, Hindus and black people in every city in this land where there is a significant Muslim population".

Mr Griffin quoted further sections, claiming the verses justified Islam treating women as "sexual playthings of very little value beyond that" and also violence, including the 9/11 attacks in the US.

He told the jury he had spent a lot of time studying the Koran and believed it was often misquoted by politicians, including Prime Minister Tony Blair, as they tried to claim Islam was a peaceful faith.

"Islam and our democracy are totally incompatible," he said.

"It's very easy for people brought up in a post-Christian secular society to think that this is a dusty old book, a bit like the Bible, and it's a history book from the eighth century.

"To Muslims the Koran is the literal word of God - the only law as to how to live your life." Mr Griffin, of Llanerfyl, Powys, Wales, denies two charges of using words or behaviour intended to stir up racial hatred and two alternative charges of using words or behaviour likely to stir up racial hatred.

Mr Collett, 25, of Swithland Lane, Rothley, Leicestershire, denies eight offences.

The charges relate to six speeches made by the two men which were filmed by an undercover BBC reporter.

The case was adjourned until Monday.