Four men accused of posting stickers to 200 Newham lamposts warning Muslims not to vote appeared at Southwark Crown Court today.

Muslims Ziaur Rahman, 37, Ibrahim Anderson, 38, Anees Farooq, 27, and Mohammed Alamgir, 36 all stand charged with criminal damage.

The charges relate to stickers posted around east London in weeks leading up to this year’s General Election.

Stickers were found in Newham that read: “Warning: voting for man-made law is shirk associating with Allah.”

Today the four appeared to enter pleas in relation to the charges but the plea and case management hearing was adjourned to enable all defendants to enter their pleas.

Ibrahim Anderson pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal damage, Ziaur Rahman pleaded not guilty to one count of criminal damage Anees Farooq pleaded not guilty to one of two counts of criminal damage.

The hearing was adjourned until November 23 to allow Anees Farooq to enter a plea to the second count of criminal damage and to allow Mohammed Alamgir to enter a plea to one count of criminal damage.

A trial start date is also scheduled to be determined at the hearing.

The case continues.