Latest news with #Armenian-Kurdish
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Prosecuting man who burned Koran is attempt to revive blasphemy laws, court hears
The prosecution of a man who burned a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish Consulate is an attempt to revive blasphemy laws, a court has heard. Hamit Coskun is accused of posing a threat to public order after setting fire to the holy book in London on Feb 13 in what he saw as a peaceful protest. At the start of his trial at Westminster magistrates' court, the 50-year-old's lawyers argued that prosecutors were 'seeking to introduce a law unknown to this land, namely blasphemy in relation to Islam'. Mr Coskun is accused of carrying out disorderly behaviour 'within the hearing or sight of a person likely to have caused harassment, alarm or distress' by burning a copy of the Koran. It is further alleged he held it aloft while shouting 'f--- Islam' and 'Islam is religion of terrorism', and was motivated by hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam. Mr Coskun, who is of Armenian-Kurdish descent, denies the offences and argues he was entitled to burn the Koran and make critical comments about Islam under Article 10 of the Convention of Human Rights. Katy Thorne KC, for Mr Coskun, argued that the prosecution was an abuse of process and should be stayed, adding: 'We submit that this is an attempt by the prosecution, to reintroduce and develop an offence of blasphemy.' Ms Thorne argued that the prosecution criminalised any public burning of a religious book and 'undermined the criminal justice system'. 'It is effectively chilling the right of citizens to criticise religion,' she said. Blasphemy laws were abolished in England and Wales in 2008 and in Scotland in 2021. Ms Thorne said in her written argument: 'To render such an act a criminal offence is tantamount to reintroducing a blasphemy law in relation to Islam, rendering the Koran a specially protected object in the UK, where a flag or another book would not be, and rendering trenchant or offensive criticism of Islam a criminal offence, is also akin to reinstating an offence of blasphemy. 'People must be free to exercise their religious or non-religious beliefs and to manifest those beliefs in whatever non-violent way they choose, and any curtailing by the state of that freedom must be absolutely necessary in a democratic society.' Lawyers for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) insisted that Mr Coskun was not being prosecuted for setting fire to the Koran. Philip McGhee, for the CPS, said: 'He is being prosecuted for his disorderly behaviour in public.' He said there was 'simply no misconduct in this case', adding: 'Nothing about the prosecution of this defendant for his words and actions has any impact on the ability of anyone to make any trenchant criticism of a religion.' John McGarva, deputy district judge, refused Ms Thorne's application and said that 'this case was not an abuse of process'. 'This is not an attempt to bring back old blasphemy laws or a wider blasphemy law related to Islam,' he said. Mr Coskun, wearing a white striped shirt and a grey jumper, sat outside the dock in courtroom nine, following proceedings intently via a Turkish translator. The public gallery was packed with supporters. The Free Speech Union has taken up Mr Coskun's case and has paid for a security team, as well as half of his legal fees. The National Secular Society is paying for the other half. The court heard Mr Coskun's action was a protest against Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, who the former believes has made the country a 'base for radical Islamists and is trying to establish a sharia regime'. Prosecutors said Mr Coskun, who is an atheist, travelled to the Turkish Consulate in Knightsbridge in February from his home in the Midlands with a lighter and copy of the Koran. Once at the embassy, he set fire to the holy book, and, while holding it aloft, began shouting that 'Islam is a religion of terrorism'. As he did so, a man from a neighbouring building came out to ask him why he was doing it. 'Terrorist,' replied Mr Coskun. The man responded: 'You're a f---ing idiot,' adding: 'I'm going to f---ing kill you now.' He then disappeared back inside, came out and began attacking Mr Coskun, who was punched and pushed to the ground and then kicked. The man then spat on Mr Coskun before picking up the smouldering copy of the Koran and shouting at him 'Burning the Koran? It's my religion. You don't burn the Koran.' A man filming the incident interjected: 'He just has.' His attacker has subsequently pleaded guilty to assault. Police were called to the scene and, via a telephone interpreter, Mr Coskun told them: 'I have been exercising my democratic right to protest by setting fire to the Koran.' As officers spoke to him, Mr Coskun repeatedly said 'f--- Islam', the court heard. Mr Coskun suffered an injury to his hand in the attack and was taken to hospital before being arrested later that day. When interviewed under caution, he again said he had been exercising his right to protest as he believed the Koran was 'inciting people' to commit terrorism. The trial, expected to last one day, continues. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Rudaw Net
01-04-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Armenia looks to boost ties with Kurdistan across key sectors: Consulate official
Also in Kurdistan Canada officially closes office in Erbil Sulaimani food safety 'cleanest in Iraq': Local` administration Peshmerga father of 3 wins 2025 Toyota SUV in Rudaw Ramadan contest 100,000 chicks burn in devastating Baharka farm fire A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Armenia views its relationship with the Kurdistan Region as both friendly and mutually beneficial, with efforts underway to expand cooperation in trade, tourism, education, and cultural exchanges, the Acting Chief of Yerevan's mission to Erbil told Rudaw. Rafayel Movsesyan in mid-March stated that 'Armenia attaches importance to relations with the Kurdistan Region and we perceive these ties as both friendly and mutually beneficial.' The official 2024 statistics show that 'the trade turnover between Armenia and Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, reached almost 250 million [US] dollars,' said Movsesyan, adding that 'the bulk of this number belongs to the trade with the Kurdistan Region.' He elaborated that the trade mainly entails the export of cigarettes, coffee, livestock among other things. Movsesyan noted that 'there is still untapped potential for further expanding trade and economic relations,' including in sectors like foodstuff and clothing, and expressed a desire in 'seeing a larger quantity of items being exported from Armenia to the Kurdistan Region and vice versa.' The Armenian diplomat further noted that in 2022, 'We organized two Armenian-Kurdish business fora which took place in Yerevan' which saw the participation of 'more than 70 Kurdish businessmen.' In February 2024, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan visited the Kurdistan Region, where he met with President Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil. The two leaders discussed enhancing economic cooperation between Erbil and Yerevan, with a focus on areas such as commerce, investment, healthcare, and tourism. Answering a question on the sectors Yerevan wishes to expand its ties with Erbil, Movsesyan stated that 'among our priorities is forging trade, economic, cultural and scientific educational cooperation.' He additionally pointed out that around 300 students from the Kurdistan Region are studying in Armenia, 'most of whom study in medical universities.' He encouraged more students from the Kurdistan Region to study in Armenia. In terms of cultural exchanges, Movsesyan pointed out that a group of Armenian experts from the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran) visited Erbil for the third time last year. The Matenadaran is one of Armenia's leading research institutions, dedicated to preserving and studying ancient manuscripts. The Armenian team 'restored several old documents and conducted an intensive workshop on preserving and restoring manuscripts.' Movsesyan also said that 'tourism between Armenia and the Kurdistan Region is expanding and developing,' pointing to a notable number of Yazidis who travel back and forth between the two for religious tourism. The Lalesh temple, one of the holiest sites for the Yazidi community, is located in the Dohuk province of the Kurdistan Region, near the town of Shekhan. Yazidis from around the world travel to Lalesh, especially during important religious festivals, underscoring the deep cultural and religious ties between the two regions. -
