UK: Muslim avoids prison after assaulting man for burning the Qur’an

Image: Jihad Watch

A 59-year-old Muslim man who attacked another individual for burning a Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London has avoided a custodial sentence.

The incident occurred on February 13 in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, west London, when Hamit Coskun, 51, set an Islamic holy book on fire during a protest. During the act, Coskun shouted inflammatory remarks, including “f*** Islam,” “Islam is religion of terrorism,” and “Koran is burning,” attracting the attention of bystanders and residents, prosecutors said. Coskun, who is Turkey-born and of mixed Kurdish and Armenian heritage, had traveled from his home in the Midlands specifically to carry out the protest.

Moussa Kadri, a resident of a nearby building, confronted Coskun after witnessing the act. According to prosecutors, Kadri approached Coskun, asking why he was burning the Koran. Footage from the scene captured Kadri calling Coskun “a f****** idiot” and declaring, “I’m going to kill you,” before returning with a knife and attacking him. Kadri later told police that he had acted to defend his religion.

At Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Adam Hiddleston sentenced Kadri to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. In addition, he must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation. The judge condemned Kadri’s conduct, describing the loss of temper as “disgraceful” and emphasizing that “the use of blades is a curse on our community.”

Kadri, of Kensington, west London, had pleaded guilty to assault and possession of a bladed article in a public place. His defense lawyer, Greg Unwin, argued that Kadri’s actions were a spontaneous response to a deeply offensive act targeting a holy book, emphasizing that his client had expressed sincere remorse and regret for his behavior.

Meanwhile, Coskun faced legal consequences for his own actions. In June, he was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court of a religiously aggravated public order offense. The court found that his conduct—using disorderly behavior “within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress”—was motivated by hostility toward members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam, under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section five of the Public Order Act 1986.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)