A Muslim man who attacked another man burning a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London has been given a suspended prison sentence. Moussa Kadri, 59, was handed a 20-week term, suspended for 18 months, at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to assault and possession of a bladed article.
The court heard that on 13 February, Hamit Coskun, 51, shouted insults and set fire to a Koran during a protest in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge. Kadri, from Kensington, emerged from a nearby building, threatened to kill Coskun, then returned with a knife and slashed at him. He later told police he was protecting his religion.
Footage showed Coskun backing away and using the burning book to defend himself as Kadri slashed repeatedly. Kadri also chased Coskun, who fell to the ground, where he was kicked and spat upon. Judge Adam Hiddleston described Kadri’s loss of temper as “disgraceful” and noted that “use of blades is a curse on our community.”
Kadri’s defence lawyer said his client acted in the heat of the moment in response to a “deeply offensive act on a holy book.” The judge ordered Kadri to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation.
Coskun, who travelled from the Midlands, was convicted in June of a religiously aggravated public order offence. District Judge John McGarva found that his actions were “highly provocative” and motivated by hatred of Muslims. Coskun’s case had prompted concerns about attempts to reintroduce blasphemy law, but the government confirmed no such laws exist in England.
