Sir Keir Starmer has been dragged into a Koran-burning court case after it was revealed the Prime Minister had defended a protester who defaced the US flag in 2001.
Hamit Coskun, 50, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with disorderly behaviour likely to cause "harassment, alarm or distress" for setting a Koran alight.
Coskun insists he will enter a not guilty plea and plans on burning Korans in other cities, with his lawyers claiming that he has a human right to peacefully protest under Article 10 of the Convention on Human Rights.
During his days as a human rights barrister, Sir Keir Starmer had a High Court case dismissed after his client's conviction for disorderly behaviour "likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress" was quashed; the same listing of the Public Order Act that Coskun is charged with.
Hamit Coskun will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court
PA
Starmer told the High Court: "Flag denigration is a form of protest activity renowned the world over."
He added that his client had the right to stage a "peaceful protest in a free and democratic society," which the High Court agreed with.
Coskun travelled to the Turkish consulate in London and was accused of setting fire to a Koran with a lighter before allegedly shouting "Islam is religion of terrorism".
A video of the incident went viral after Coskun was attacked, and the 50-year-old later claimed that two Iraqi men broke into his home in Derby and threatened him with an ashtray and a knife.
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The father-of-three came to the UK from Turkey two-and-a-half years ago to flee persecution and has since been seeking asylum, with his case under review.
The atheist, who is half Armenian and half Kurdish, has spent nearly 10 years in jail for membership in a Kurdish political party, which Turkish authorities say was a terrorist front.
Coskun denies the allegation and said he was "abused and tortured" and even had a gun put to his neck.
He became alarmed at what he claims is the "Islamification" of Turkey and is convinced that the Koran encourages terrorism after "studying the Koran for 25 years".
This led to him burning the Muslim holy book, which, after being filmed and posted, went viral on social media.
During his days as a human rights barrister, Starmer defended a 59-year-old under the same listing of the Public Order Act that Coskun is charged with
Reuters
Coskun explained: "On February 13, I went to London, I took the bus. At 2pm, in front of the Turkish consulate. That's because Turkey has been made a base for extremism, and that is why I burned the Koran."
A man came out of a nearby neighbourhood building and told Coskun: "You're a f**king idiot", adding: "I'm going to f**king kill you now."
Coskun said: "I don't speak English, but I could tell the guy was threatening me. After a minute, he came back. I was scared. But that doesn't mean I am a coward.
"Then the delivery rider stamped on my hand and threw his bicycle on me before cycling off."
The 50-year-old was taken to hospital but then arrested and held in a cell for 24 hours.
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