AhlulBayt News Agency: A man has been found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence after burning a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in London. The case has reignited debate over free speech and the boundary between protest and hate.
Hamit Coskun, 50, was accused of chanting Islamophobic slogans while holding up a burning copy of the Islamic holy text in Knightsbridge, west London, in February.
On Monday, District Judge John McGarva ruled that Coskun’s actions were “motivated at least in part by hostility towards Muslims” and did not constitute a reasonable exercise of his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Delivering the verdict, McGarva stated: “Your actions in burning the Quran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by abusive language, in some cases directed toward the religion, and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion.”
Coskun argued that he was exercising his “right to freedom of speech,” but his actions sparked widespread reactions in Britain after footage of the incident went viral on social media.
However, the judge dismissed Coskun’s defense, stating that he “clearly holds a deep-seated hatred of Islam and its followers.” He added that the defendant’s attempt to separate criticism of the religion from its adherents was not credible.
Judge McGarva found that Coskun’s actions on the day of the incident were deliberately provocative.
Standing outside the embassy, Coskun held up a Quran, set it on fire, and repeatedly shouted, “The Quran is burning,” while using what the judge described as “abusive language,” including expletives directed at Islam.
The demonstration led to two assaults against him—though unjustified—which the court said highlighted the extent of “serious public disorder” triggered by the act.
The judge concluded that Coskun had intended to provoke such a reaction.
“The timing, place, and conduct you chose. You knew Muslims would be present, and you were aware that your actions were likely to be provocative,” McGarva said.
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