A JUDGE overturned the conviction of a man who burned the Koran saying freedom of expression must allow the right to “offend, shock or disturb”.
The decision came after Hamit Coskun was found guilty earlier this year of a religiously aggravated public order offence after shouting “f*** Islam” while holding a copy of the flaming text.
Hamit Coskun has successfully overturned his conviction[/caption]
The incident happened outside Turkey’s consulate in London back in February.
Free speech campaigners aided the 51-year-old to successfully appeal against the conviction furious over an attempt to bring back blasphemy laws by the back door.
Mr Justice Bennathan said: “There is no offence of blasphemy in our law.
“Burning a Koran may be an act that many Muslims find desperately upsetting and offensive.
“The criminal law, however, is not a mechanism that seeks to avoid people being upset, even grievously upset.
“The right to freedom of expression, if it is a right worth having, must include the right to express views that offend, shock or disturb.”
The judge added that Coskun had acted alone and hadn’t directed his “political speech or conduct” at any person.
In his ruling at Southwark Crown Court, he added: “We live in a liberal democracy.
“One of the precious rights that affords us is to express our own views and read, hear and consider ideas without the state intervening to stop us doing so.
“The price we pay for that is having to allow others to exercise the same rights, even if that upsets, offends or shocks us.”
Campaigners and shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, who himself attended court on Thursday, said the conviction was akin to blasphemy being brought in “by the back door”.
Jenrick said he did not agree with what Mr Coskun had done, but added: “I don’t believe it’s a crime”.
Blasphemy laws were abolished in in England and Wales back in 2008 and in Scotland in 2021.
Following the ruling, Mr Coskun said he had originally come to England “to be able to speak freely about the dangers of radical Islam”.
He said he was now “reassured that – despite many troubling developments – I will now be free to educate the British public about my beliefs”.
The Free Speech Union said the ruling sends a message that “anti-religious protests, however offensive to true believers, must be tolerated”.
Lord Toby Young of Acton, director of the FSU, said “anti-religious protests, however offensive to true believers, must be tolerated”.
The National Secular Society described Mr Coskun’s protest as a “lawful act of political dissent”.
