UK Court Overturns Conviction of Man Who Burned Quran Outside Turkish Consulate

UK Court Overturns Conviction of Man Who Burned Quran Outside Turkish Consulate
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A British appeals court has overturned the conviction of Hamid Coskun, a 51-year-old Turkish-born man, previously found guilty of burning a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London in February. Coskun had been convicted in June for disorderly conduct aggravated by religious hostility.

However, Judge Joel Bennathan of Southwark Crown Court ruled that freedom of expression protects even offensive or shocking acts, noting that British law does not criminalize blasphemy. The court found no evidence that the act caused actual disturbance or harassment, leading to Coskun’s acquittal and the cancellation of his £240 fine.