Coskun prosecution could spell return of blasphemy laws, NSS warns

The prosecution of a man on trial tomorrow for burning a Quran could edge the UK "dangerously close to a prohibition on blasphemy", the National Secular Society has warned.

Hamit Coskun (pictured) will stand trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court for protesting against Islamism outside the Turkish Consulate in February. He set fire to a Quran as part of the protest, which led to a man attacking him with a knife.

Coskun was subsequently charged with intent to cause "harassment, alarm or distress" against "the religious institution of Islam".

Following interventions by the NSS, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the wording of the charge was "incorrectly applied" and it has "substituted a new charge".

The NSS is supporting Coskun throughout the process.

Coskun faces fine of £2,500

Coskun is now charged with an offence under Section 5 of the Public Order Act which criminalises using words or behaving in a disorderly manner, or displaying material that is likely to harass, intimidate or distress others.

He is also charged under section 31(1)(c) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which would make Coskun guilty of a "religiously aggravated" public order offence.

The penalty under Section 5 is a maximum fine of £1,000. But if found to be religiously aggravated, it could rise to £2,500.

Coskun is an atheist of Armenian and Kurdish heritage with a long history of protesting against the Turkish government. He said his demonstration was a protest against the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for policies which he said are turning Turkey into a "base for radical Islamists".

He also said his protest was an act of solidarity with Salwan Momika – an Iraqi refugee who was assassinated in Sweden in January after burning Qurans in repeated public protests.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has criticised the charge against Coskun.

Blasphemy was abolished as a common law offence in England and Wales in 2008. Last year, the Government said it would not reintroduce blasphemy laws, after Tahir Ali MP asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer to "commit to introducing measures to prohibit the desecration of all religious texts and prophets of the Abrahamic religions".

The verdict is expected to be delivered on Monday.

NSS: "Establishing a right not to be offended threatens the very foundation of free expression"

NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "A successful prosecution in this case could represent the effective criminalisation of damaging a Quran in public, edging us dangerously close to a prohibition on blasphemy.

"The case also highlights the alarming use of public order laws to curtail our collective right to protest and free speech based on the subjective reactions of others. Establishing a right not to be offended threatens the very foundation of free expression."

Media coverage:

• Prosecuting man for burning Qur'an 'reintroducing blasphemy law', UK court told - The Guardian
• Quran burning prosecution in effect 'reintroduces blasphemy law' - The Times
• Criminalising Koran burning would be reintroducing blasphemy law, court told - Evening Standard
• Convicting man over Koran burning would reintroduce blasphemy law, court told - Sky News
• Convicting man accused of setting fire to Quran could 'reintroduce blasphemy' - Metro