The condemnation of a person for burning the Koran could be “synonymous with the reintroduction of a blasphemy legislation”, his protection crew instructed a court docket.
Hamit Coskun carried out on Wednesday on the Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom after supposedly shouting abusive slogans over Islam when he burned the Holy Ebook in entrance of the Turkish consulate in Knightsbridge, London on February 13.
The 50-year-old denies a religiously tightened crime of public order if it makes use of disorganized conduct, and another indictment that disordered conduct “is more likely to be harassed throughout the listening to or seeing an individual”.
Katy Thorne, who defended, stated in his negotiation that the general public prosecutor, who pursues the case in opposition to Coskun, “tried to current a legislation that’s unknown to this nation, particularly blasphemy in relation to Islam”.
The blasphemy networks had been abolished in England and Wales in 2008, with Scotland after the indictment in 2021.
Ms. Thorne instructed the court docket that the burning of the Koran “can’t be a criminal offense”.
“Taking such an motion is synonymous with the reintroduction of a blasphemy legislation in reference to Islam, the Koran to a specifically protected object in Nice Britain, whereby a flag or one other guide wouldn’t be a prison prison offense.
“Folks should be free to train their non secular or non -religious beliefs and manifest these beliefs within the non -violent manner they select, and any restriction of the state of this freedom should be completely crucial in a democratic society.”
Hamit Coskun is charged with a religiously intensified crime of public order. Picture: Pa
She stated that Coskun “didn’t warn the hatred” in direction of Islam, however protested “outdoors the Turkish consulate, a political establishment that supplied additional proof that he didn’t require to persuade others to not like Islam, however to precise his private criticism of Turkey and her perspective to Islam”.
Ms. Thorne added: “His protest was particularly political and due to this fact requires the very best safety of freedom of expression.”
“Menace to public order”
Nonetheless, the general public prosecutor Philip McGhee stated that Coskun was not solely charged due to the burning of the Koran, however due to “disorganized conduct”. He stated that Coskun’s prosecution had not influenced the power of others to criticize faith.
Mr. McGhee stated that Coskun, born in Turkey, who’s half Kurdish and half -Armenian, stated the time and place of his protest intentionally chosen and traveled from his home to the Midlands to guide the Koran round 2 p.m.
“His actions led to a really clear menace to public order and went past a professional expression of the protest and crossed the border to supply a menace to public order,” stated McGhee.
Coskun, an atheist, had stated on social media that he demonstrated in opposition to the “Islamist authorities” by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who stated that he had made Turkey a foundation for radical Islamists and tried to discovered a Sharia regime, “stated the general public prosecutor.
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The accused’s authorized charges are paid for by the liberty of speech (FSU) and the Nationwide Secular Society (NSS).
The FSU stated it defended Coskun “not as a result of we’re in opposition to Islam, however as a result of we imagine that no one must be compelled to look at the blasphemy codes of a faith, whether or not Christian or Muslim”.
Stephen Evans, managing director of the NSS, added: “On this case, profitable prison prosecution may characterize the efficient criminalization of a Koran in public and transfer us dangerously near a ban on blasphemy.”
The try that’s anticipated to take a day will proceed.
