London - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
In a case that has reignited debate about the limits of freedom of expression in Britain, a man in his fifties was fined after he burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in London, chanting anti-Islamic slogans.
On February 13, Hamit Coskun, 50, was seen holding a burned copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Consulate, chanting, "Islam is the religion of terrorism." According to what was published by the European News Network website in Brussels, "Euronews," it added, "Before Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Coskun said that his actions were a peaceful protest against the policies of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government, accusing it of making Turkey a "base for extremist Islamists."
Presiding over the hearing, Judge John McGarva described Coskun's behavior as "provocative and ludicrous," asserting that the timing, location, and language used made his actions a punishable offense. He noted that the defendant's actions were motivated, at least in part, by hatred of Muslims.
Political and human rights groups threaten escalation
Some British politicians have expressed concern about the repercussions of the ruling. Dave Paris, the British Prime Minister's spokesman, said that "England has no blasphemy laws, and there are no plans to reinstate them."
Robert Jenrick, a Conservative member of Parliament, commented on the decision via the X platform, saying that it "revives the repealed blasphemy law," which was dropped after a campaign organized by secularists more than a year ago. The conviction of the Quran burner has sparked outrage among organizations defending freedom of expression. The Freedom of Expression Association and the National Secular Society considered the ruling a threat to freedom of expression and confirmed their intention to appeal the court decision "and to pursue the appeal until the ruling is overturned," noting the possibility of resorting to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
In a statement issued by the Freedom of Expression Association, Coskun said, "It cannot be right to prosecute someone for blasphemy against Islam," adding that the decision is "an attack on freedom of expression" and could deter others from exercising their democratic rights to peaceful protest and expression of opinion.