Judge says the convict was 'motivated by hatred toward Muslims', describing the Islamophobic action 'highly provocative'
A man has been found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence after he burnt a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in London, in a case that has reignited debate over the limits of free speech and the line between protest and hate.
Hamit Coskun, 50, was accused of chanting Islamophobic slogans as he held up a burning copy of the Islamic holy text in Knightsbridge, west London, in February.
Delivering the verdict, district judge John McGarva said on Monday: "Your actions in burning the Koran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by abusive language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion."
Coskun was defending himself by saying he "was practicing his right of freedom of speech in a democratic society and he was not targeting Muslims as whole but the extremists."
He had also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of using disorderly behavior "within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress", contrary to section five of the Public Order Act 1986.
The charges were brought as alternatives, meaning Coskun could only be convicted of one, not both.
The judge said: "Criticizing a religion is not a crime in a democratic country but the timing, place and conduct you chose … You knew that there would be Muslims in the region you chose. You said you only target Islam as an institution but I understand you are motivated by hatred toward Muslims."
