Man who burned Quran in London may get US asylum as case draws Trump administration attention

Free speech controversy erupts as the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service appeals the overturned conviction of Hamit Coskun, who burned a Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in London. United Kingdom Man who burned Quran in London may get US asylum as case draws Trump administration attention Hamit Coskun burned Islamic text outside Turkish Consulate in London, sparking diplomatic tension over free speech By Emma Bussey Fox News Published February 15, 2026 8:00pm EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Religious freedom, free speech under attack in UK as pastor charged for preaching gospel The Christian Institute deputy director Simon Calvert discusses threats to religious freedom and free speech in the U.K. after a pastor was charged for preaching on ‘The Will Cain Show.’ NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The Trump administration is weighing involvement in the case of a protester who was fined for burning a Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in London, as U.K. prosecutors look to reinstate his overturned conviction, according to reports. Officials are said to be discussing granting 51-year-old Hamit Coskun refugee status if the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) wins its appeal, with a senior U.S. administration official telling The Telegraph the case is one of several "the administration has made note of."Coskun, of Armenian-Kurdish descent, had initially sought asylum in the U.K. from Turkey, where he says Islamic extremists "destroyed" his family’s life and where he was jailed for protesting Islamist governance. DAN GAINOR: ENGLAND DOESN’T HAVE FREE SPEECH AND WANTS TO TAKE OURS AWAY, TOO Hamit Coskun has said he may "flee" to America if the Crown Prosecution Service succeeds in its High Court challenge. (Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images) On Feb. 13, 2025, he traveled to the Turkish Consulate in London and set fire to a copy of the Quran while shouting slogans including "Islam is [the] religion of terrorism" and "f--- Islam." There he was attacked by Moussa Kadri, a passerby who chased him with a knife, kicked him and spat on him.Kadri later received a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of assault and having a bladed article in a public place. Initially charged with harassing the "religious institution of Islam," Coskun’s case drew intervention from the National Secular Society and the Free Speech Union, who argued prosecutors were effectively reviving blasphemy laws already abolished in 2008.MARCO RUBIO VOICES CONCERN THAT AMERICANS MAY SOMEDAY BE ARRESTED FOR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS WHEN VISITING EUROPE Coskun was convicted of a religiously aggravated public order offense and fined in June 2025. That October, Coskun’s conviction was overturned when a judge ruled that while burning a Quran was "desperately upsetting and offensive" to many Muslims, the right to free expression "must include the right to express views that offend, shock or disturb."The CPS is now seeking to reverse that decision at London's High Court, with Coskun telling The Telegraph that if the appeal goes against him, he may be forced "to flee" the country.IRISH COMEDIAN SAYS UK PM STARMER HIDES FROM CULTURE WARS AS 'ORDINARY PEOPLE' FIGHT DAILY BATTLES At the 2025 Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance said "in Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat." (Matthias Schrader/AP Photo) "For me, as the victim of Islamic terrorism, I cannot remain silent. I may be forced to flee the UK and move to the USA, where President Trump has stood for free speech and against Islamic extremism," he told the outlet."If I have to do so, then, to me, the UK will have effectively fallen to Islamism and the speech codes that it wishes to impose on the non-Muslim world," he added.President Donald Trump and the U.S. administration have already criticized the U.K. and European governments over increased restrictions on expression. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP In 2025, Trump slammed the U.K.'s laws around online speech, saying "strange things are happening" there and that it was "not a good thing."At the Munich Security Conference in 2025, Vice President JD Vance also said, "In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat." Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of State for comment. Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture. Related Topics United KingdomRefugeesTurkeyAppealsState Department Antisemitism Exposed Fox News' Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world." Arrives Weekly By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time. Subscribe Subscribed Subscribe You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!