Shouts of “Islam is a religion of terrorism” echoed outside the Turkish consulate in London on February 13, 2025, as 50-year-old Hamit Coskun set fire to a copy of the Qur’an—an act a UK court has now ruled as religiously aggravated public disorder.
Coskun, who claimed he was staging a peaceful protest against the Turkish government, was found guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, June 2. District Judge John McGarva ruled that while burning a religious text might not always constitute public disorder, Coskun’s use of inflammatory speech at a politically sensitive location crossed the line into criminal conduct.
The judge noted that the timing, venue, and hostile language used during the incident made the protest “alarming and provocative,” emphasizing that the defendant’s actions were driven partly by his hatred for Muslims. “This wasn’t about freedom of expression—it was about provocation,” Judge McGarva said in his sentencing remarks.
Coskun was fined £240 ($325) for the offense, drawing sharp criticism from free speech advocates and secularist organizations. The National Secular Society (NSS), which helped fund Coskun’s legal costs, described the verdict as “a dangerous step toward reintroducing blasphemy laws under a different name.”
While Coskun insisted during trial that his protest was against Turkey’s political leadership and not Islam itself, prosecutors countered with video evidence showing him making derogatory religious remarks and using Islamophobic rhetoric to incite public outrage.
The incident sparked a diplomatic stir, as footage of the Qur’an burning circulated online, prompting widespread condemnation from religious groups and international observers. Many have since called for tougher penalties on hate-based provocations disguised as protests.
Legal analysts say the verdict could set a precedent in the UK’s ongoing debate over the limits of free speech and the protection of religious communities. Advocacy groups are now preparing to appeal, arguing that Coskun’s conviction infringes upon Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
