Free speech row erupts as knife attacker spared jail over Quran-burning protest

A major free speech row has broken out after a Muslim man who charged at a protester with a knife during a Quran-burning demonstration in London was spared jail.

Moussa Kadri, 59, threatened to kill activist Hamit Coskun and slashed at him outside the Turkish consulate in Knightsbridge, but was handed a suspended sentence despite pleading guilty to assault and possession of a blade.

Free speech campaigners condemned the verdict, warning it effectively gives religious vigilantes “a green light” to enforce blasphemy laws on British streets.

Coskun himself was convicted of a public order offence for anti-Islam slogans shouted during his protest, a ruling critics say signals the UK has effectively reintroduced a “blasphemy law” without parliamentary approval.

MPs and campaigners argued that offensive speech or criticism of religion should not be met with violence, while Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick demanded tougher charges against Kadri, sharing footage of the attack and calling it disgraceful that such an incident avoided prison time.

In this video, Moussa Kadri repeatedly slashes a knife at a man for burning a Koran. Today, he has been spared jail time.

In the sentencing remarks, the Judge said: “I note however that you are now 59 years old and someone of hitherto exemplary character… You are a loved… pic.twitter.com/pRnJcUXkTi

— Connie Shaw (@_ConnieShaw) September 23, 2025