Today was the hearing of a man who was charged with religiously motivated harassment, alarm, or distress after burning a Quran outside the Turkish Embassy at Southwark Crown Court. The judge will deliver his decision tomorrow.
In June, Hamit Coskun, a half-Kurdish and half-Armenian man from Turkey, was convicted by Westminster Magistrates’ Court for burning a copy of the Quran while shouting disparaging remarks about Islam within hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm, or distress. The judge stated that the burning of a religious book was not in and of itself unlawful, even if it is offensive to some. But the location of the burning, outside the Turkish Embassy, and Coskun’s associated actions, made his behaviour disorderly.
Coskun was convicted of a religiously aggravated public order offence under Section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act. His actions were found to be motivated at least in part by hostility to Muslims due to comments he made in his police interview that were prejudicial towards Muslims. As a result, the judge found that the defendant had a ‘deep-seated’ hatred of not just Islam but also its followers, and that it was not possible to separate the two.
Considering an illustrative case of an ex-Muslim who may hold prejudicial views about their former community because of their experiences, Humanists UK expressed deep concern that ex-Muslims may find themselves more liable to conviction for voicing views critical of Islam while holding prejudicial views about their former community, even if those latter views were not publicly expressed.
A Humanists UK spokesperson said:
‘We welcome the appeal as we do not believe the appellant should have been convicted. He was previously found guilty for prejudicial views that were expressed in a police interview after the incident, not during the incident itself. This means that the bar to successful prosecutions is set too low, causing a chilling effect on free speech which risks being a blasphemy law. This could have a particular impact on ex-Muslims, who may hold negative views about their former community because of their experience, and who may feel they are no longer able to express their non-religious beliefs for risk of prosecution.
‘We campaign for the fullest possible protection for freedom of expression in law that is limited only to protect others from harm.’
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Acting Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Karen Wright at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
Read the Westminster Magistrates’ Court June judgment.
Read Humanists UK’s previous coverage of his case.
Read more about our work on repealing blasphemy laws.
Read more about our work on freedom of expression.
Read more about our work combating harassment and incitement.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.