A man who set fire to a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish Consulate in central London was assaulted and spat on by a member of the public who shouted “it’s my religion” in protest at the act, a court has heard.
Hamit Coskun, 50, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court where he is on trial accused of a religiously aggravated public order offence after burning the Islamic holy book on 13 February this year. Coskun denies the charge, as well as an alternative count of using disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, under the Public Order Act 1986.
Prosecutors allege the incident, which occurred on Rutland Gardens in Knightsbridge, was motivated by hostility towards Muslims. The court was shown mobile phone footage of the act, which showed Coskun holding the burning Koran aloft while shouting inflammatory phrases including “f*** Islam”, “Islam is religion of terrorism” and “Koran is burning”.
The court heard that Coskun, who is originally from Turkey and is of Kurdish and Armenian heritage, travelled from his Midlands home specifically to carry out the protest. During the incident, a passer-by confronted Coskun, allegedly brandishing a bladed article and slashing out at him while calling him a “f****** idiot”.
In the video, Coskun is seen trying to back away and using the flaming book to deflect the attacker’s blows. He then stumbles and falls to the ground, at which point he is spat at and kicked by the man, who shouted: “Burning the Koran? It’s my religion! You don’t burn the Koran.”
Coskun suffered an injury to his finger and was taken to hospital. It remains unclear whether the injury was caused by the alleged knife, the fall, or the kicks. The man who assaulted Coskun is currently the subject of separate legal proceedings and cannot be named for legal reasons.
The court heard arguments from both sides regarding the nature of Coskun’s actions. Prosecutor Philip McGhee rejected Coskun’s claim that he was exercising his right to protest, calling it a “shield” to disguise his “hostility” towards Islam.
Mr McGhee also told the court that Coskun had posted online prior to the incident, declaring that his demonstration was aimed at opposing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and what he described as the increasing Islamisation of Turkey. He reportedly described Erdogan’s government as “Islamist” and accused it of “trying to establish a sharia regime”.
Coskun, who identifies as an atheist, maintains that his actions were a form of peaceful protest and were protected under freedom of expression. Speaking before the trial via the Free Speech Union, which is supporting his case alongside the National Secular Society (NSS), Coskun said: “Encountering such treatment in a country like England, which I truly believed to be a place where freedom prevailed, was a real shock to me.”
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His defence barrister, Katy Thorne KC, told the court on Thursday that although Coskun’s actions were deeply offensive to many, they remained within the bounds of lawful expression. “There is across history, and indeed now, many people who are hostile to other religions,” she said. “It is a sacrosanct right to hold and express those views, however objectionable they may be to others.”
Ms Thorne argued that Coskun had acted in a calm manner, raising his voice but not behaving violently or disorderly until he was physically assaulted.
District Judge John McGarva is due to deliver his verdict at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The case has sparked wider debate about the limits of free speech, religious tolerance, and the boundaries of lawful protest in a pluralistic society.
