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A Turkish-born man was found guilty on Monday of a religiously aggravated public order offence after burning a Qur’an outside the Turkish consulate in London, in a case that sparked debate among free-speech advocates.
Hamit Coskun, 50, shouted provocative phrases including “Islam is religion of terrorism” and “Qur’an is burning” as he set the religious text alight in February. District Judge John McGarva at Westminster Magistrates’ Court ruled that Coskun’s actions constituted disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to others. The judge also noted that Coskun’s conduct was motivated by hostility toward followers of Islam.
Coskun was fined £240, with an additional £96 surcharge. The judge described the incident as “highly provocative,” accompanied by offensive language directed at the religion.
Prosecutors emphasised that Coskun was not prosecuted for the act of burning the book itself but for disorderly behaviour in public. The court heard that a bystander filmed the incident, which also showed another man allegedly brandishing a knife and appearing to confront Coskun.
An atheist currently seeking asylum in the UK, Coskun stated that his protest was aimed at opposing the “Islamist government” of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His legal costs have been covered by the Free Speech Union (FSU) and the National Secular Society, groups that criticised the prosecution as effectively a blasphemy case conflicting with free speech protections.
The FSU labelled the verdict “deeply disappointing,” asserting that freedom of expression should protect peaceful protest, no matter how offensive it may be to some.
Coskun, speaking through the FSU, called the conviction “an assault on free speech,” questioning whether he would have faced prosecution for burning a Bible outside Westminster Abbey and highlighting the repeal of Christian blasphemy laws in the UK more than 15 years ago.
