Burning the Quran ‘risks sparking public disorder’

An activist who burned the Quran in front of the Turkish consulate risked sparking public disorder, a court heard.

Hamet Coskun, 51, held the burning text aloft outside his home country’s embassy building on 13 February.

Coskun told police he was protesting against the Turkish government’s support of radical Islam and claimed his relatives had been murdered in the Armenian genocide.

A bystander filmed Coskun with the book in his hand and plumes of smoke emerging upwards from it into the sky.

He is seen shouting ‘Islam is the religion of terrorism’ and added stating ‘Quran is burning’ and ‘F-ck Islam’.

Coskun was then attacked by Mousa Kadri, 59, who emerged from a nearby building, swinging a bread knife at him shouting: ‘I will come back, I am going to kill you.’

He is seen attempting to fend off Kadri with the burning book.

Coskun was then knocked to the ground by Kadri who aimed several kicks at him, then spat on him.

Last month Kadri, of Notting Hill, admitted assault and possession of an offensive weapon, and was given a 20 week prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

Coskun denied was convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence in June and fined £240.

He is appealing against his conviction at Southwark Crown Court today.

Phillip McGhee, prosecuting, said: ‘There was a risk of public disorder and it caused public disorder, so it is proportionate to prosecute him.’

Coskun told police that he had burned the Koran because he believes that it incites terrorism.

He said: ‘I’ve done research, much more than someone Islamic. I have more detailed knowledge.

‘The Quran incites people to terrorism. The Quran wants people to be killed.

‘Muslim people rape young children young girls.’

Coskun said that he was a Marxist and grew up in a secular environment.

‘I was brought up in a secular family. Some of my family were killed in the Armenia genocide.’

Coskun, from Derby, claimed he was not prejudiced against Muslims.

‘I have no prejudice against Muslim people as long as they don’t use violence,’ he said.

‘Islam is not a race, Islam is a religion trying to destroy people’s lives.’

Mr McGhee said that Coskun only has limited rights under Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which protects the right to freedom of expression.

‘Article 10 does not give absolute rights, it is limited by part two of that article

Mr Justice Bennathan said: ‘No one is asking us to say that his actions were admirable.’

But he added: ‘Often people say stuff that is stupid, ignorant, offensive or upsetting. But then to say it is criminal is a completely different proposition.’

Mr McGhee said: ‘He was not simply engaging in a critical analysis of the tenets of a religion. He was engaging in public disorder, shouting and swearing as he did, including at someone who asked him what he was doing.’

Mr McGhee said that Coskun had suggested that he was motivated by hostility towards Islam and Muslims in his police interveiw.

‘One shouldn’t shut out the things he said during interview when he was asked why he was doing this.’

Coskun’s appeal continues.