A man who was fined for burning a Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London has won an appeal against his conviction, with a judge ruling that freedom of expression includes the right to offend. Hamit Coskun was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence in June after shouting anti-Islamic slogans while setting the holy book on fire.
At Southwark Crown Court on Friday, Mr Justice Bennathan overturned the conviction, stating that while burning a Quran might be deeply upsetting to many Muslims, the right to freedom of expression must include the right to express views that offend, shock or disturb. Coskun had argued his criticism was of Islam as a religion, not its followers.
The appeal was backed by the Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society. Toby Young, director of the Free Speech Union, said the ruling sends a message that anti-religious protests, however offensive, must be tolerated. He warned that upholding the conviction would have encouraged religious fundamentalists to enforce blasphemy codes through violence.
Coskun, who is half Kurdish and half Armenian and lives in England, said he came to the UK to speak freely about the dangers of radical Islam and is now reassured he can educate the public about his beliefs. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who attended the hearing, said he does not agree with burning the Quran but does not believe it is a crime.
The National Secular Society described the judgment as an important victory for freedom of expression, calling Coskun's protest a lawful act of political dissent. Humanists UK welcomed the overturning of the conviction but expressed concern about gaps in the law that could undermine free speech protections.
