Why violence works

Because it's easier for governments to ignore it and co-opt it than to fight it.

2008: Britain officially revokes a centuries-old law against blasphemy, in the name of maintaining harmony in an increasingly diverse society.

2025: Britain unofficially reinstates a centuries-old law against blasphemy, in the name of maintaining harmony in an increasingly diverse society.

A man has admitted to setting fire to the Islamic holy book the Koran which was live-streamed on social media.

Martin Frost, 47 was filmed holding a flag of Israel before tearing out pages of the text and setting fire to it in Manchester on Saturday 1 February,

Manchester Magistrates Court heard how Frost had publicised the event online beforehand, and that it was streamed on social media.

The “trigger” for his actions was the death of his daughter in the Israeli conflict which had affected his mental health, the court heard.

Frost, of Stretford, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to a single charge of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment or alarm to Fahad Iqbal, by displaying some wr…