Hamit Coskun, 51, has won a massive case in the UK High Court after his conviction was overturned. Coskun was brought up on charges of harassing the "religious institution of Islam" after he burned a Quran outside the Turkish Consolate while shouting "f*ck Islam." Coskun burned the book in an act of political protest.
Coskun, who is of Armenian-Kurdish background, was attacked as he staged his protest by Moussa Kadri, who was passing by. Kadri slashed at him and then, when Cosckun was on the ground, began kicking him. Kadri was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison—but 18 of those weeks were suspended, leaving him to serve just 2.
The Free Speech Union represented Coskun and celebrated the win on social media but said that "this is not the end." The argued that he was actually being tried for blasphemy. General secretary of the Free Speech Union Lord Young Acton said that the prosecutor should resign over the case.
"This appeal should never have been brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, just as Hamit should never have been prosecuted. We have not had blasphemy laws in this country for 18 years and for that reason, this prosecution was bound to fail," he said, per The Telegraph.
"Yet the CPS has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds trying to bring one back via the back door – and one that just enforces Muslim blasphemy codes, not Christian ones. In light of this humiliating defeat, I think the director of public prosecutions has no choice but to resign."
"The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) relentlessly pursued Hamit Coskun for burning a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in London. They have failed.
"But this is not the end.
"Since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, three men have been prosecuted for burning copies of the Quran. The Free Speech Union has represented all three. That is why we need your support.
"Despite our victory in Hamit’s case, the CPS is still prosecuting another FSU member.
"On 1 February 2025, Martin Frost set fire to a copy of the Quran in Manchester city centre. Police quickly arrived. He told officers he was demonstrating solidarity with Salwan Momika, an anti-Islam activist in Sweden who was murdered after burning a Quran.
"Like Hamit, Martin was charged under the Public Order Act 1986.
"We believe Martin’s case should be thrown out. Parliament abolished blasphemy laws in 2008. Blasphemy is not an offence in English law.
"In Hamit’s case, the High Court was clear: public order laws cannot be twisted to reintroduce blasphemy by the back door.
"Yet the CPS appears determined to press ahead. In Hamit’s case, it instructed one of the most expensive KCs in the country and secured a conviction before we overturned it in the High Court. We must be prepared to fight again.
"Martin’s trial is listed at Manchester Crown Court for 13–15 November 2027. We may succeed in getting the case dismissed — but we need your help.
"We do not know why there has been a surge in arrests for Quran burning over the past year. But we do know this: no government should use public order law to enforce religious blasphemy codes.
"In a free society, no religion is beyond criticism.
"We are standing with Martin and others for their right to speak freely.
"If you can, please donate to help us stop the revival of Britain’s blasphemy laws via the back door."
Coskun, who is of Armenian-Kurdish background, was attacked as he staged his protest by Moussa Kadri, who was passing by. Kadri slashed at him and then, when Cosckun was on the ground, began kicking him. Kadri was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison—but 18 of those weeks were suspended, leaving him to serve just 2.
The Free Speech Union represented Coskun and celebrated the win on social media but said that "this is not the end." The argued that he was actually being tried for blasphemy. General secretary of the Free Speech Union Lord Young Acton said that the prosecutor should resign over the case.
"This appeal should never have been brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, just as Hamit should never have been prosecuted. We have not had blasphemy laws in this country for 18 years and for that reason, this prosecution was bound to fail," he said, per The Telegraph.
"Yet the CPS has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds trying to bring one back via the back door – and one that just enforces Muslim blasphemy codes, not Christian ones. In light of this humiliating defeat, I think the director of public prosecutions has no choice but to resign."
"The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) relentlessly pursued Hamit Coskun for burning a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in London. They have failed.
"But this is not the end.
"Since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, three men have been prosecuted for burning copies of the Quran. The Free Speech Union has represented all three. That is why we need your support.
"Despite our victory in Hamit’s case, the CPS is still prosecuting another FSU member.
"On 1 February 2025, Martin Frost set fire to a copy of the Quran in Manchester city centre. Police quickly arrived. He told officers he was demonstrating solidarity with Salwan Momika, an anti-Islam activist in Sweden who was murdered after burning a Quran.
"Like Hamit, Martin was charged under the Public Order Act 1986.
"We believe Martin’s case should be thrown out. Parliament abolished blasphemy laws in 2008. Blasphemy is not an offence in English law.
"In Hamit’s case, the High Court was clear: public order laws cannot be twisted to reintroduce blasphemy by the back door.
"Yet the CPS appears determined to press ahead. In Hamit’s case, it instructed one of the most expensive KCs in the country and secured a conviction before we overturned it in the High Court. We must be prepared to fight again.
"Martin’s trial is listed at Manchester Crown Court for 13–15 November 2027. We may succeed in getting the case dismissed — but we need your help.
"We do not know why there has been a surge in arrests for Quran burning over the past year. But we do know this: no government should use public order law to enforce religious blasphemy codes.
"In a free society, no religion is beyond criticism.
"We are standing with Martin and others for their right to speak freely.
"If you can, please donate to help us stop the revival of Britain’s blasphemy laws via the back door."
