Man found guilty of burning Koran in London
Hamit Coskun ignited the Islamic holy book outside the Turkish consulate on February 13.
A 50-year-old man of Turkish origin was convicted on Monday for a religiously aggravated public order offence after burning a Koran in London a case that drew the attention of free speech advocates.
Hamit Coskun ignited the Islamic holy book outside the Turkish consulate on February 13, while shouting phrases including "Islam is a religion of terrorism" and "The Koran is burning."
Presiding over the case at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, District Judge John McGarva ruled that Coskun had engaged in disorderly conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to those within sight or hearing of the incident.
District Judge John McGarva stated that Coskun's actions were driven by "hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam."
He imposed a £240 (Sh41,894) fine along with a £96 (Sh16,757) statutory surcharge.
"The act of burning the Koran in that location was extremely provocative," the judge said, adding that Coskun’s language was offensive and, at times, directly targeted the Islamic faith, motivated at least partly by religious hatred.
Prosecutors emphasized that Coskun wasn’t being charged for destroying the book itself, but rather for his disruptive conduct in a public space.
"This case is about disorderly behaviour, not the act of burning the book," said Crown Prosecution Service representative Philip McGhee.
The court also heard that the incident was captured on video by a bystander. The footage reportedly showed another man believed to be armed
Coskun, an atheist seeking asylum in the UK, said on social media that his actions were intended as a protest against what he described as the "Islamist government" of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
His legal defense is being funded by the Free Speech Union (FSU) and the National Secular Society.
Both groups argue that, despite protections for free expression in the UK, Coskun is effectively facing prosecution for blasphemy.
The Free Speech Union (FSU) described the verdict as "deeply disappointing" in a statement posted on its X account.
"Everyone should have the right to protest peacefully and express their views freely, even if those views are offensive or upsetting to others," the group stated.
