Latest news with #JohnMcGarva
Spectator
3 days ago
- Politics
- Spectator
England now has a blasphemy law
Officially, blasphemy was abolished by New Labour in the 2008 Criminal Justice Act. But today, with the conviction of Hamit Coskun, blasphemy laws now exist in England. This law has been created by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and District Judge John McGarva. Between them they have prosecuted and found a man guilty of a 'religiously aggravated public order offence' because he burned a Quran. The CPS mounted a prosecution conflating the religious institution of Islam, with Muslims as people, and a British judge has accepted this. Islamic blasphemy codes are now being enforced by arms of the British state, via what the National Secular Society describes as 'a troubling repurposing of public order laws as a proxy for blasphemy laws'. Hamit Coskun burned a Quran outside the Turkish consulate in February, before being attacked by a man named Moussa Kadri who has since pleaded guilty to the assault. Mr Coskun was initially charged under the Crime and Disorder Act with 'intent to cause against the religious institution of Islam harassment, alarm or distress'.
Evening Standard
4 days ago
- Evening Standard
Man convicted over Koran-burning in London says ruling is assault on free speech
The 50-year-old had argued his criticism was of Islam in general rather than its followers, but District Judge John McGarva said he could not accept this, finding that Coskun's actions were 'highly provocative' and that he was 'motivated at least in part by a hatred of Muslims'.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Man who burned Koran guilty of religiously aggravated public order offence
Hamit Coskun, 50, shouted 'f*** Islam', 'Islam is religion of terrorism' and 'Koran is burning' as he held the flaming Islamic text aloft in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, on February 13, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard last week. District Judge John McGarva delivered his verdict at the same court on Monday. Coskun was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence of using disorderly behaviour 'within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress', motivated by 'hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam', contrary to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. Giving his verdict, District Judge McGarva said: 'Your actions in burning the Koran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by bad language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion.'
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Man who burned Koran guilty of religiously aggravated public order offence
Hamit Coskun, 50, shouted 'f*** Islam', 'Islam is religion of terrorism' and 'Koran is burning' as he held the flaming Islamic text aloft in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, on February 13, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard last week. District Judge John McGarva delivered his verdict at the same court on Monday. Coskun was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence of using disorderly behaviour 'within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress', motivated by 'hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam', contrary to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. Giving his verdict, District Judge McGarva said: 'Your actions in burning the Koran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by bad language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion.'
Western Telegraph
4 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Man who burned Koran guilty of religiously aggravated public order offence
Hamit Coskun, 50, shouted 'f*** Islam', 'Islam is religion of terrorism' and 'Koran is burning' as he held the flaming Islamic text aloft in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, on February 13, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard last week. District Judge John McGarva delivered his verdict at the same court on Monday. Coskun was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence of using disorderly behaviour 'within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress', motivated by 'hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam', contrary to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. Giving his verdict, District Judge McGarva said: 'Your actions in burning the Koran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by bad language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion.'
