In London, a man has been found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offense after setting a Quran on fire and proclaiming “Islam is a religion of terrorism” outside the Turkish embassy. This conviction has sparked a debate regarding freedom of expression after various free speech organizations insisted they would challenge the ruling. Hamit Coskun, 50, engaged in this protest on February 13, holding the burning Quran while shouting, “f*** Islam.” During his court appearance, Coskun claimed his actions were peaceful and a form of protest. However, District Judge John McGarva determined that Coskun’s behavior was “provocative and taunting,” potentially causing harassment, alarm, or distress, and was partly driven by animosity toward Muslims.
While acknowledging that burning a religious text can be offensive, the judge remarked that Coskun’s actions were disorderly due to the timing, location, and accompanying abusive comments. Coskun, who originates from Turkey, had explained that his protest was directed at the Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom Coskun accused of creating a haven for radical Islamists. Subsequently, Coskun was fined £240 ($325).
The National Secular Society and the Free Speech Union, which funded Coskun’s legal defense, expressed their belief that the conviction poses a threat to free speech. They announced their intentions to appeal the decision continuously until overturned, even suggesting they might take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. In a statement via the Free Speech Union, Coskun declared his opinion that prosecuting someone for blaspheming against Islam is unjust. He described the ruling as a blow to free speech, potentially discouraging others from exercising their democratic rights to protest and express themselves.
Coskun stated he remains committed to advocating against what he perceives as the risks posed by Islam. Meanwhile, Robert Jenrick from the opposition Conservative Party declared on a social media platform that the verdict revives a blasphemy law, which was repealed by Parliament in 2008 following a push from secularists. In response, spokesman Dave Pares for Prime Minister Keir Starmer reassured reporters that there are no blasphemy laws in England and no plans to implement any.