ISLAMABAD: A British court has convicted a man for burning the Holy Quran outside London’s Turkish consulate in a case critics warn revives blasphemy laws through legal backdoor.
Hamit Coskun, 50, was fined £240 ($325) for a “religiously aggravated” public order offense after his February protest, where he shouted expletives while setting the Islamic scripture ablaze.
Court Rules Protest “Provocative and Hate-Motivated”
Judge John McGarva emphasized the verdict wasn’t about blasphemy but disorderly conduct, citing Coskun’s abusive language and deliberate provocation near a Muslim diplomatic mission.
“Your actions were motivated by hatred of Islam’s followers,” the judge stated.
The prosecution denied targeting free speech, insisting the charge stemmed from public disruption.
Free Speech Backlash
The National Secular Society and UK Conservatives condemned the ruling as a de facto blasphemy law, abolished in England in 2008.
Coskun’s lawyer argued the case criminalized anti-government protest—he claimed his Kurdish-Armenian heritage fueled his stance against Ankara.
During the incident, a passerby attacked Coskun with a knife, highlighting tensions around religious sensitivities in multicultural Britain.
The verdict sparks fresh debate: Can Western democracies balance free expression with preventing religious hatred? As secular groups vow appeals, the case sets a precedent that may chill dissent under the guise of public order.
