Hamit Coskun, 50, has been found guilty on of a religiously aggravated public order offence for burning a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish Consulate in Knightsbridge, London, on February 13, 2025.
The trial took place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Coskun, who had fled Turkey after nearly a decade as a political prisoner, was charged under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Public Order Act 1986 for using disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.
Coskun’s defense, supported by the Free Speech Union and National Secular Society (NSS), argued that his actions were protected under freedom of expression and that prosecuting him risked reintroducing blasphemy laws, which were abolished in England and Wales in 2008. Despite these arguments, District Judge John McGarva ruled that Coskun’s actions were “highly provocative” and fined him £240.
Coskun's legal fees are being paid for by the National Secular Society and the Free Speech Union (FSU). Both organisations have said they intend to appeal against the verdict "and keep on appealing it until it's overturned".
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch posted to X:
De facto blasphemy laws will set this country on the road to ruin.
This case should go to appeal. Freedom of belief, and freedom not to believe, are inalienable rights in Britain.
As I said in this interview, I’ll defend those rights to my dying day.
https://twitter.com/KemiBadenoch/status/1929550892723847627
