Latest news with #KoranBurning
The Independent
14 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Man who burned Koran convicted of religiously aggravated public order offence
The man who burnt a Koran outside a Turkish consulate committed a religiously aggravated public order offence, a judge has ruled. Hamit Coskun, 50, faced a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week. He shouted 'f*** Islam ', 'Islam is religion of terrorism' and 'Koran is burning' as he held the flaming book aloft in Knightsbridge, London, on 13 February, the court heard. District Judge John McGarva delivered his verdict at the same court on Monday. He found Coskun 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.' Coskun's conviction under the Public Order Act is 'deeply disappointing', the Free Speech Union (FSU), one of his backers, said. 'Everyone should be able to exercise their rights to protest peacefully and to freedom of expression, regardless of how offensive or upsetting it may be to some people,' a spokesperson for the FSU said. 'The Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society intend to appeal this verdict and keep on appealing it until it's overturned. If that means taking it all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, we will do so.' Religious tolerance is an important British value, but 'it doesn't require non-believers to respect the blasphemy codes of believers', the spokesperson said. 'On the contrary, it requires people of faith to tolerate those who criticise and protest against their religion, just as their values and beliefs are tolerated.' The National Secular Society (NSS), which alongside the Free Speech Union paid for Coskun's legal fees, said the verdict 'jeopardises' free expression. 'The outcome of this case is a significant blow to freedom of expression and signals a concerning capitulation to Islamic blasphemy codes,' NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said.
Sky News
15 hours ago
- General
- Sky News
Man convicted after burning Koran outside Turkish consulate in London
A man has been found guilty of an offence after burning a Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London, in a case that sparked debate over the freedom of expression. Hamit Coskun was accused of shouting "f*** Islam" and "Islam is religion of terrorism" as he held up a burning copy of the holy Islamic text in Knightsbridge, London, in February. He was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence and ordered to pay a £240 fine, with a statutory surcharge of £96. Delivering the 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." The National Secular Society (NSS), which jointly with another organisation paid his legal fees, called it a "significant blow to freedom of expression". The 50-year-old denied 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 the Public Order Act 1986. He had also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of using disorderly behaviour "within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress", contrary to section five of the Public Order Act 1986. The charges were alternative, meaning only one or the other would apply, but not both. Prosecutors said Coskun had written on social media he was protesting the "Islamist government" of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had "made Turkey a base for radical Islamists and is trying to establish a Sharia regime". Mr Erdogan, who has been in power for over 20 years, leads the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which, while created from former Islamist movements and having a strong religious base, describes itself as a conservative-democratic party and has strongly denied being Islamist. Barrister Katy Thorne KC, defending, last week argued the prosecution was effectively trying to revive blasphemy laws, which were abolished in England and Wales in 2008 and Scotland in 2021. Coskun, who has both Kurdish and Armenian heritage but was born in Turkey, travelled from his home in the Midlands and set fire to the Koran on the afternoon of 13 February, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard last week. Footage aired in court showed another man confronting Coskun, allegedly holding a knife and saying: "It's my religion, you don't burn the Koran." NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "The outcome of this case is a significant blow to freedom of expression and signals a concerning capitulation to Islamic blasphemy codes." He said it establishes "heckler's veto" that incentivises "violent responses to suppress views deemed offensive". "Such an erosion of free speech is detrimental to community relations. Social cohesion is best achieved not by restricting rights but by fostering their free exercise." Please refresh the page for the latest version.
The Independent
21 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Judge set to pass verdict after trial of man who burned Koran
A judge is set to pass verdict after the trial of a man who burned a Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London. 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, London, on February 13, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard last week. Coskun denies 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 the Public Order Act 1986. He also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of using disorderly behaviour 'within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress', contrary to section five of the Public Order Act 1986. The charges are alternative to each other, meaning if hostility towards religion is not proven, Coskun could still be found guilty of the simple offence of disorderly behaviour. His lawyer, Katy Thorne KC, argued last week that the prosecution is effectively trying to revive blasphemy laws, which were abolished in England and Wales in 2008 and Scotland in 2021. Blasphemy remains an offence in Northern Ireland but is rarely enforced. Prosecutor Philip McGhee said the case is about disorderly conduct, not the act of burning the Koran itself, adding that the prosecution of Coskun does not represent a restriction on criticising religion. Turkey-born Coskun, who is half Kurdish and half Armenian, travelled from his home in the Midlands and set fire to the Koran at around 2pm, the court heard. In footage captured on a mobile phone by a passerby that was shown to the court, a man approached and asked Coskun why he was burning a copy of the Koran. Coskun can be heard making a reference to 'terrorist' and the man called the defendant 'a f****** idiot'. The man approached him allegedly holding a knife or bladed article and appeared to slash out at him, the court heard. The footage appeared to show Coskun back away and use the burning Koran to deflect the attacker, who is alleged to have slashed out at him again. The man chased Coskun, and the defendant stumbled forward and fell to the ground, dropping the Koran, the footage showed. Coskun was spat at and kicked by the man, the court heard. The man said: 'Burning the Koran? It's my religion, you don't burn the Koran.' Coskun had posted on social media that he was protesting against the 'Islamist government' of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who the defendant allegedly said 'has made Turkey a base for radical Islamists and is trying to establish a Sharia regime', prosecutors said. The defendant, who is an atheist, believes that he protested peacefully and burning the Koran amounted to freedom of expression, the court heard. His legal fees are being paid for by the Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society (NSS). District Judge John McGarva will pass verdict at the same court on Monday. Stephen Evans, chief executive of the NSS, said before the trial: 'A successful prosecution in this case could represent the effective criminalisation of damaging a Koran in public, edging us dangerously close to a prohibition on blasphemy. 'The case also highlights the alarming use of public order laws to curtail our collective right to protest and free speech based on the subjective reactions of others. 'Establishing a right not to be offended threatens the very foundation of free expression.' A spokesperson for Humanists UK previously said that a successful prosecution would 'effectively resurrect the crime of blasphemy in England and Wales – 17 years after its abolition'. They added: 'This reintroduction of blasphemy by the back door would have profound consequences, not only for free expression in the UK but for the safety and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of so-called 'apostates' in the UK and their right to freedom of thought and conscience.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Man, 50, who set fire to the Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London says he never would have come to Britain if he 'knew this country does not have free speech'
A protestor who set fire to a Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London said he would not have come to Britain had he known free speech was 'under threat here'. Hamit Coskun, 50, burned Islam's holy book to highlight how Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan 's constitutionally secular government had become an 'Islamist regime'. Mr Coskun who is half Turkish and half Armenian, was attacked by a knifeman during his protest and has since been assaulted by extremists near his home. Police have now moved him to a secret location where he is watched by two bodyguards. After a hearing last week at Westminster Magistrates' Court he will learn today whether a judge has found him guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence and another charge of disorderly behaviour. In an exclusive interview with the Mail, the father-of-two said: 'I would never have come here if I knew this country does not have free speech. 'I would never have come if I knew criticising Islam would attract attention and risk. Radical Islamists do not exist in Turkey – they exist in the UK.' Mr Coskun – a secularist who fled Turkey almost three years ago to escape persecution – came to Britain as an asylum seeker. His desecration of the Koran was posted instantly on social media, stirring anger across the Muslim community. As he set fire to the book, which Muslims believe is the literal word of God, and so must never be desecrated, he shouted: 'F*** Islam, Islam is a religion of terrorism.' He was charged with using 'threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress'. Last week, his defence lawyer told the court that prosecutors were 'seeking to introduce a law unknown to this land, namely blasphemy in relation to Islam'. Mr Coskun said a guilty verdict would be a victory of extremism over free speech, adding: 'It will become a limitation of freedom of expression, because they are trying to eliminate anyone who is criticising Islam. 'This proves they are trying to enforce blasphemy law in this country. This is not what a democratic country would do.' He accepts that burning the Koran was offensive. But he insists he committed the act to protest against Mr Erdogan rather than Muslims in general. The Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society have paid for Mr Coskun's legal fees and his private security. Stephen Evans, chief executive of the NSS, said last night: 'A successful prosecution would represent the effective criminalisation of damaging a Koran in public, ushering in blasphemy laws by the back door. 'The case also highlights the alarming use of public-order laws to curtail our collective right to freedom of expression and protest based on the subjective reactions of others. Establishing a right not to be offended threatens the very foundation of free expression.'
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Man who burned Koran was attacked and spat at, court told
A man who burned a Koran outside the Turkish Consulate in central London was attacked and spat on by a man who told him not to do so because 'it's my religion', a court heard. Hamit Coskun, 50, shouted 'f*** Islam', 'Islam is religion of terrorism' and 'Koran is burning' as he held the flaming Islamic text aloft outside the Turkish consulate in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, London, on February 13, Westminster Magistrates' Court was told. Coskun denies 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 the Public Order Act 1986. He also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of using disorderly behaviour 'within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress', contrary to section five of the Public Order Act 1986. Further details of a subsequent attack on Coskun can now be reported after a judge dismissed a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) attempt to impose a reporting restriction. Turkey-born Coskun, who is half Kurdish and half Armenian, travelled from his home in the Midlands and set fire to the Koran at around 2pm, the court heard. In footage captured on a mobile phone by a passerby that was shown to the court, a man approached and asked Coskun why he was burning a copy of the Koran. Coskun can be heard making a reference to 'terrorist' and the man called the defendant 'a f****** idiot'. The man approached him allegedly holding a knife or bladed article and appeared to slash out at him, the court heard. The footage appeared to show Coskun back away and use the burning Koran to deflect the attacker, who is alleged to have slashed out at him again. The man chased Coskun, and the defendant stumbled forward and fell to the ground, dropping the Koran, the footage showed. Coskun was spat at and kicked by the man, the court heard. The man said: 'Burning the Koran? It's my religion! You don't burn the Koran.' Coskun sustained an injured finger and was taken to hospital, though it is not clear whether this was caused by the man's kicks, the court heard. The unnamed man is subject to legal proceedings. Katy Thorne KC, defending, said in her closing argument on Thursday: 'We would suggest that there is across history, and indeed now, many people who are hostile to other religions.' Ms Thorne brought up the example of some feminists being hostile to Catholicism, saying it is a 'sacrosanct right that they are entitled to have and express'. She added: 'However offensive Muslims may find the behaviour and beliefs of the defendant, he's entitled to have them, he's entitled to express them.' Ms Thorne said that Coskun felt that he was not acting in a violent way or had been disorderly in front of anyone. She added: 'He was calm, he was calmly with a raised voice saying 'Islam is the religion of terrorism' and then what happened was he was abused and violently attacked.' Prosecutor Philip McGhee said Coskun's argument that he was using the right to protest was a 'shield' for a 'hostility' towards Islam. Coskun had posted on social media that he was protesting against the 'Islamist government' of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who the defendant allegedly said 'has made Turkey a base for radical Islamists and is trying to establish a sharia regime', the prosecutor said. The defendant, who is an atheist, believes that he protested peacefully and burning the Koran amounted to freedom of expression, the court heard. Ahead of his trial, in a quote released through the Free Speech Union, he said: 'Encountering such treatment in a country like England, which I truly believed to be a place where freedom prevailed, was a real shock to me.' His legal fees are being paid for by the Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society (NSS). District Judge John McGarva will pass verdict at the same court on Monday.
