Hamit Coskun Charged with Harassing Islam After Burning Koran, CPS Decision Criticized by Robert Jenrick

Hamit Coskun, a member of the Free Speech Union, has been charged with harassing the religious institution of Islam after burning a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish Embassy in central London. The incident, a protest against President Erdogan, has sparked a significant debate over the reintroduction of blasphemy laws in the UK. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has criticized the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for potentially creating a 'back door blasphemy law' through this prosecution, emphasizing that blasphemy laws were abolished in Britain in 2008. The CPS initially charged Coskun with causing alarm to the 'religious institution of Islam,' a charge that Jenrick argued had no legal basis. Following public and political pressure, the CPS dropped this charge but amended it to more accurately reflect the alleged offense, removing references to the institution of Islam. Critics, including Jenrick and Humanists UK, continue to express concern over the updated charging decision, fearing it could still circumvent free speech protections for criticism of religion. The case has drawn attention to broader issues of freedom of expression in the UK, with some calling for a nationwide law to explicitly prohibit the reintroduction of blasphemy laws. The debate extends to Scotland, where a recent panel discussion, the Edinburgh Speakeasy, was organized to explore the implications of the Hate Crime Act on religious free speech.