UK Court Overturns Conviction of Man Who Burned Quran, Citing Free Speech Protections
A UK court has overturned the conviction of Hamit Coskun, a 51-year-old Turkish-born man fined for burning a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London, ruling that his actions were protected under free speech laws.
Coskun had been convicted in June by Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a religiously aggravated public order offence and fined £240. The presiding judge at the time, John McGarva, described his behaviour as “provocative and taunting” and said Coskun harboured “a deep-seated hatred of Islam.”
However, the Southwark Crown Court quashed the conviction on Friday. Delivering the ruling, Justice Bennathan said that while the act was “deeply offensive to many Muslims,” it remained within the scope of lawful expression.
“Freedom of expression must include the right to express views that offend, shock, or disturb,” Bennathan stated. “In a liberal democracy, that is the price we pay for protecting open discourse.”
Coskun welcomed the decision, saying he felt “reassured” and intended to continue speaking out about what he described as “the dangers of radical Islam.”
The February protest where the incident occurred turned violent when a man, Moussa Kadri, attacked Coskun with a knife, claiming he was defending his religion. Kadri later received a suspended sentence.
Civil liberties advocates, including the Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society, hailed the judgment as a vital precedent for protecting expression rights. Critics of the earlier ruling argued it risked reintroducing blasphemy laws—which were abolished in England and Wales in 2008.
Lord Young of Acton of the Free Speech Union said the verdict “sends a clear message that offensive or anti-religious protests, however distasteful, must be tolerated in a free society.”
الأقسام
- World Affairs
- News
- Politics
- Entertainment
- People & Nation
- التعليم
- Tech & Innovation
- Security & Conflicts
- Business & Economy
- Opinion & Analysis
- Health & Wellness
- Education & Opportunities
- Science & Environment
- Lifestyle & How-To
- History & Heritage
- Art
- Causes
- Crafts
- Dance
- Drinks
- Film
- Fitness
- Food
- الألعاب
- Gardening
- Health
- الرئيسية
- Literature
- Music
- Networking
- أخرى
- Party
- Religion
- Shopping
- Sports
- Theater
- Wellness
إقرأ المزيد
President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to hunt down those responsible for the recent wave of deadly attacks in Benue State. The president issued the directive on Wednesday during a visit to the state, which has been reeling from renewed violence that has left dozens dead and thousands displaced. Speaking at...
Sound and light indicators are versatile devices that combine auditory and visual cues to enhance workplace safety. They are widely used for machine status signaling, safety warnings, and emergency notifications. Innovations in LED technology and sound modulation have improved their effectiveness, reliability, and energy efficiency. In today’s fast-paced industrial and commercial...
Renowned journalist and PDP chieftain, Dele Momodu, has issued a sobering warning about the state of Nigeria’s democracy, claiming the country is sliding dangerously toward civilian dictatorship. In his statement, Momodu expressed deep concern over the growing centralization of power, suppression of dissent, and a political climate that increasingly mirrors the authoritarian tendencies of...
Financial analyst and former banker, Etim-Etim, has raised concerns over the ₦39 billion spent on renovating Abuja’s International Conference Centre, describing the cost as excessive and calling for greater transparency in public spending. Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Etim questioned how a facility built for less than ₦300 million in 1991 could now...
The Federal Government has debunked a fake recruitment letter circulating on social media, warning the public to beware of scammers posing as officials of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB). In a statement released by the Board’s Secretary, AM Jibril, the CDCFIB clarified that although Presidential approval has been granted for recruitment into...
