A 50-year-old man has entered a not guilty plea after a video surfaced online showing him burning a Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London, provoking significant public response.
A 50-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of religiously motivated harassment following an incident that occurred outside the Turkish consulate in Knightsbridge, London. The event, which took place on Thursday, involved the burning of a Koran, captured on social media, and has sparked considerable attention.
The accused, identified as Hamit Coskun from Derby, faced Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, where he entered his plea through an interpreter while wearing a grey tracksuit top. Reports indicate that he had a bandage on his left hand. The charge against him states that he allegedly intended to cause alarm or distress concerning the Islamic religion while performing the act of burning the book. Following the hearing, Coskun was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to return to the same court for trial on May 28.
The incident escalated when another individual, Moussa Kadri, 59, from Kensington and Chelsea, allegedly attacked Coskun while he was on the ground. Kadri faces charges of causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. He was released on bail and is due to appear in court on Monday.
Footage that has surfaced online shows Coskun burning the Koran outside the consulate’s barriers, before being confronted and subsequently attacked by Kadri. The video captures a violent encounter in which Kadri is seen kicking Coskun and brandishing a knife in a threatening manner before walking away from the scene.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed the details surrounding the charges, stating that they take such incidents seriously, particularly those that involve religiously aggravated offences. The events that unfolded outside the Turkish consulate have raised discussions about the implications of such actions in a multicultural society, with both parties now set to face judicial scrutiny in the coming weeks.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.opindia.com/news-updates/kurdish-activist-hamit-coskun-burns-quran-outside-turkish-consulate-london-attacked-with-knife-details/ – This article corroborates the incident involving Hamit Coskun burning a Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London and being attacked by another individual.
- https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/turkish-knightsbridge-kensington-and-chelsea-derby-metropolitan-police-b2698777.html – This news piece supports the details of the charges against Hamit Coskun and Moussa Kadri, including the religiously aggravated public order offence and the charges of causing actual bodily harm.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is mentioned as the original provider of the article’s information, though it does not directly provide additional corroboration beyond the article itself.
- https://www.met.police.uk/ – The Metropolitan Police website would likely provide official statements or press releases regarding the incident and the charges involved, though specific details may not be available without direct access to their press releases.
- https://www.westminster.gov.uk/courts-and-tribunals/westminster-magistrates-court – This link to Westminster Magistrates’ Court provides context for where Hamit Coskun entered his plea, though specific case details might not be publicly available.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice – The Ministry of Justice website could offer general information on court procedures and legal processes relevant to the case, though specific details about this incident might not be available.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative appears to be recent, referencing a specific incident and court proceedings. There is no indication that the content is recycled or outdated.
Quotes check
Score:
0
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the narrative to verify.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable news outlet, The Irish News, which generally provides reliable information. However, the lack of additional sources or corroboration from other major outlets slightly reduces the score.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims in the narrative are plausible and consistent with the type of incidents that can occur in public spaces. The involvement of law enforcement and court proceedings adds to the plausibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be fresh and plausible, with a reliable source. The absence of direct quotes does not detract from the overall credibility of the information presented.
