from National Secular Society
A “universal” test for disorderly conduct “completely eviscerates any idea of protest”, Hamit Coskun’s defence says
An appeal against a Crown Court decision to quash the conviction of a man who burned a Quran is “really hopeless”, the High Court has heard.
Today the Crown Prosecution Service brought forward its appeal against Hamit Coskun, whose conviction of a religiously aggravated public order offence for burning a Quran in a protest was overturned in October.
In February Coskun, who is an asylum seeker from Turkey, burned a Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in London while shouting “Islam is religion of terrorism”. He said his demonstration was a protest against policies which are turning Turkey into a “base for radical Islamists”.
He was then attacked by two men, one armed with a knife.
Judgement has been reserved following today’s hearing but is expected to be delivered soon.
The National Secular Society has co-funded Coskun’s defence throughout the case.