The National Secular Society has expressed significant concerns regarding a criminal case involving the alleged burning of the Qur’an, warning that it may signal a clandestine resurgence of blasphemy laws in the UK. Legal opinion from prominent human rights barrister Akua Reindorf KC, representing the Society, indicates that the charges brought against Hamit Coskun could be fundamentally flawed.
Hamit Coskun, a 50-year-old Turkish national, faced legal proceedings earlier this year following an incident that occurred outside the Turkish Consulate in London. In February, he appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where he denied charges of intending to cause harassment, alarm, or distress related to his actions, which were captured in a video circulating on social media purportedly showing him burning a book outside the consulate’s premises.
In her legal assessment, Reindorf articulated concerns about the legality and implications of the charges against Coskun. She noted that the wording of the charge—specifically, referencing “the religious institution of Islam” as a victim—raises significant legal issues, as such an entity does not constitute a “person” under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986. Consequently, this leads to the conclusion that a charge based on the premise that Coskun caused harassment, alarm, or distress to Islam is intrinsically problematic.
Reindorf further elaborated that even should the charges be revised, the prosecution may face challenges in establishing that a conviction would be a proportionate response to the potential disruption posed by Coskun’s actions. In this context, she referenced the robust protections for political expression provided by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which upholds the presumption in favour of freedom of speech.
She cautioned that the existing charges, alongside any potential conviction, could inadvertently imply a reintroduction of blasphemy laws in England. The offence of blasphemy was formally abolished in 2008 and had only historically applied to Christianity. Reindorf's insights raise questions about the future of legal precedents surrounding freedom of expression in relation to religious sentiments.
In light of these developments, the National Secular Society has taken a proactive stance by appealing to the Crown Prosecution Service, requesting the discontinuation of the prosecution against Coskun. The case continues to unfold, reflecting complexities around religious rights and freedom of speech in contemporary society.
Source: Noah Wire Services