Three Muslim men have been found guilty of stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation after distributing a leaflet that said Islam called for anyone caught committing homosexuality to be executed.
Ihjaz Ali, Kabir Ahmed and Razwan Javed handed out the pamphlet, called The Death Penalty?, which showed an image of a mannequin hanging from a noose and quoted Islamic texts that said capital punishment was the only way to rid society of homosexuality.
Today at Derby Crown Court they were convicted by a jury of distributing threatening written material intending to stir up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation in the first prosecution of its kind since legislation came into force in March 2010.
Mehboob Hussain and Umar Javed, who were also charged with the same offence, were found not guilty by the jury.
Judge John Burgess, Honorary Recorder of Derby, adjourned sentencing until February 10 for pre-sentence reports.
During their trial the jury of seven men and five women heard the men, who are all from Derby, admitted distributing the leaflet, but said they were simply quoting and following what their religion teaches about homosexuality and did not intend to threaten anyone.
The leaflet was handed out outside and near the Jamia Mosque in Derby's Rosehill Street and in streets around the local neighbourhood in July 2010.
It was made and used as part of a campaign to publicise a protest in response to the Gay Pride parade due to be held in Derby on July 10 that year.
Taxi driver Ali, of Fairfax Road, who the prosecution said was believed to be the main organiser and supplier of the leaflets, was found guilty of four counts of distribution on July 2 and July 4.
Ahmed, who is married with a nine-month-old daughter and lives in Madeley Street, and Razwan Javed, of Wilfred Street, were convicted of distribution in the area of the mosque on July 2.
But married taxi driver Mehboob Hussain, of Rosehill Street, and Razwan's brother Umar Javed, a married takeaway worker who lives in Whittaker Street, were both cleared of distribution relating to posting the leaflets through the letterboxes of homes on 4 July.
The court heard that two other leaflets were also distributed and were relevant in the case to show intent even though charges had not been brought in relation to them.
The leaflets were called Gay - an acronym for God Abhors You - and Turn Or Burn, and prosecutor Bobbie Cheema said they contained excerpts from scriptures in the Koran concerning homosexuality.
A fourth leaflet - Dead Derby - was also found by police but was not distributed.
During the trial the court heard that the Death Penalty? leaflet outlined the history and legalisation of the Buggery Act in England.
The leaflet states that the Islamic verdict on anyone caught committing homosexuality is to apply capital punishment to both parties involved.
It states: "The death sentence is the only way this immoral crime can be erased from corrupting society and act as a deterrent for any other ill person who is remotely inclined in this bent way."
The leaflet continues: "The only dispute amongst the classical authorities was the method employed in carrying out the penal code."
It goes on to offer burning, being flung from a high point such as a mountain or building, or being stoned to death as suitable methods.
At the opening of the two-week trial, Cheema told the jury that the leaflets were not informative or educational but were simply "threatening, offensive, frightening and nasty".
Speaking outside court after the hearing, Chief Inspector Sunita Gamblin said: "This is a landmark case. It's the first time that Derbyshire have ever used this legislation and it's actually the first time nationally that this legislation has been used.
"Following the charges, obviously, we've had two weeks here at Derby Crown Court where a jury have heard all the evidence and information and have found three out of the five defendants guilty.
"We feel that a process has taken place and we are satisfied with the outcome of that process."
She said today's verdicts send a message that "nobody should be scared as a result of their sexual orientation or any other characteristic to that effect".