Latest news with #PublicOrder
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.
Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Man's behaviour towards gardaí in Sligo Courthouse was ‘totally unacceptable'
A 48-year-old man before Sligo District Court charged with two counts of Public Order was told by Judge Michael Connellan his behaviour was 'totally unacceptable'. Declan Cunnane, Declan Cunnane with addresses at Dejavu, Loughlinstown, Cherrywood, Dublin 6 and Woodfield, Ballymote, Co Sligo was charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at the Clayton Hotel, Clarion Road, Sligo on January 17 2025. He was also charged with the same offence at Sligo Courthouse, Teeling St, Sligo on May 1 2025.
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Sligo man (36) was putting HSE staff in fear banging doors
Artur Wojtyne, Maryville Hostel, Sligo had ten previous convictions, the court was told. He was charged with section six Public Order. Sergeant Derek Butler outlined that on March 6 2024, at 6pm, in the HSE Markievicz House, Sligo, the mental health unit, an area was not open to the public. The defendant was walking up and down the corridor, banging on glass of a side door. Staff enclosed themselves for their own safety. Staff were extremely upset with the defendant's behaviour. They had to remain in the office until gardaí arrived. The defendant had ten previous convictions. Defending solicitor Mr Tom MacSharry said a Probation Report from a circuit court matter in January gave a good insight into his client. Sgt Butler said that the defendant is a regular visitor to the mental health unit since his release from prison. He has secure sheltered accommodation and is working. He is clean and sober and is on the right path when he takes his medication. Mr MacSharry said he is doing well and at the time of the offence, he was in the throes of psychosis. Judge Sandra Murphy said that he has a previous conviction for a similar offence. She said that from her perspective, he has a background of mental health issues with addiction which he needs to address. Judge Murphy said it was a serious offence when it happened and that staff were in fear and he should not have been in the place he was in. She said she wants an updated Probation Report. She adjourned to June 19. Mr MacSharry thanked her.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- BBC News
Nine arrested over 'Hitler birthday party' in Oldham pub
Nine arrested over 'Hitler birthday party' in pub 5 minutes ago Share Save Jonny Humphries BBC News, Manchester Share Save BM Photos uploaded by the far-right group showed them displaying flags and eating a cake with a Swastika symbol on the icing Nine people have been arrested and weapons and Nazi memorabilia seized after a group "celebrated Adolf Hitler's birthday" in an Oldham pub. Members of the far-right group British Movement North West posted pictures online of themselves eating a cake with swastika icing and appeared to hold up Nazi flags at the Duke of Edinburgh in Market Street, Royton, last month. The pub's owners said its staff had been tricked by the group, who had allegedly concealed their Nazi paraphernalia. Greater Manchester Police said it had conducted morning raids across Rochdale, Bolton, Trafford, Stockport and Southport seizing swords, a crossbow, imitation firearms and a suspected grenade. The force said the nine had been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 Public Order Act offences, including displaying written material intended to stir up racial hatred. GMP said "as a matter of course" it had been in contact with Counter Terrorism Policing North West who had "offered advice" on some of the materials seized. Google The owners of the Duke of Edinburgh pub said last month its staff had been tricked by the far-right group Following the recovery of a suspected grenade at a property in Bolton, Army bomb disposal experts were deployed and the item was declared safe. The force said officers remained at some of the properties while searches continued, and extra patrols had been deployed to reassure residents. Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: "This group clearly has a deep fascination with ideas that we know are unsettling for communities across Greater Manchester. "We must take action when concerns are raised, and where weapons are suspected, to ensure people are free to live without fear of intimidation or harm." She said that while the investigation was at an early stage the force did not believe there was a wider threat to the public. A website run by the Neo-Nazi group described the event as a celebration of the "136th birthday of Uncle A". The write-up described "laughter and lively conversation" with members reminiscing "about the good times while planning their future BM escapades". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
