Mick Hartley

From the Telegraph:

British courts have been accused of reviving blasphemy laws after a man who set fire to a copy of the Koran was convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence. Hamit Coskun shouted “f— Islam” and “Islam is religion of terrorism” while holding the religious text above his head during a protest on Feb 13.

Hamit Coskun shouted “f— Islam” and “Islam is religion of terrorism” while holding the religious text above his head during a protest on Feb 13.

The 50-year-old, who was violently attacked by a passerby during the demonstration in London, went on trial last week, accused of an offence under the Public Order Act.

At Westminster magistrates’ court on Monday, he was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence of using disorderly conduct, which was motivated “in part by hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam”.

Robert Jenrick, shadow justice secretary, said: “This decision is wrong. It revives a blasphemy law that parliament repealed.

“Free speech is under threat. I have no confidence in Two-Tier Keir to defend the rights of the public to criticise all religions.”

Blasphemy laws were abolished in the UK 17 years ago.

In a statement after the verdict, Coskun said the decision was “an assault on free speech” that would deter others from exercising their democratic right to protest.

He added: “As an activist, I will continue to campaign against the threat of Islam.

“Christian blasphemy laws were repealed in this country more than 15 years ago, and it cannot be right to prosecute someone for blaspheming against Islam.

“Would I have been prosecuted if I’d set fire to a copy of the Bible outside Westminster Abbey? I doubt it.”

Yep. Me too. No one would have paid it any attention.

The National Secular Society (NSS), which, alongside the Free Speech Union, paid for Coskun’s legal fees, said the verdict “jeopardises” free expression.

A spokesperson for the FSU said: “This is deeply disappointing. Everyone should be able to exercise their rights to protest peacefully and to freedom of expression, regardless of how offensive or upsetting it may be to some people.

“The Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society intend to appeal this verdict and keep on appealing it until it’s overturned. If that means taking it all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, we will do so.”

“Religious tolerance is an important British value, but it doesn’t require non-believers to respect the blasphemy codes of believers. On the contrary, it requires people of faith to tolerate those who criticise and protest against their religion, just as their values and beliefs are tolerated.”