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2mo ago

London Knife Attacker in Qur’an-Burning Case Given Suspended Sentence

Critics say the case shows two‑tier justice after the victim’s earlier conviction for a religiously aggravated public‑order offence, which he will challenge on 8 October.

Moussa Kadri leaves Southwark Crown Court, London, where he was handed a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months for attacking a man in Knightsbridge, on February 13, who was burning a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish consulate. Picture date: Tuesday September 23, 2025. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Southwark Crown Court gave Moussa Kadri a 20‑week prison term suspended for 18 months, plus 150 hours of unpaid work, 10 days of rehabilitation activity, and £150 in costs.
  • Judge Adam Hiddleston condemned the “disgraceful” loss of temper and warned about knife crime, but accepted Kadri’s remorse and mitigation in deciding against immediate custody.
  • Kadri pleaded guilty to assault and possessing a bladed article after threatening “I’m going to kill you,” slashing at the protester with a knife, and then kicking and spitting on him.
  • The protester, Hamit Coskun, was convicted in June at Westminster Magistrates’ Court of a religiously aggravated public‑order offence for burning a Qur’an in Knightsbridge and was fined £240 plus a £96 surcharge.
  • Free‑speech groups including the Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society criticised the leniency, and Conservative MP Robert Jenrick wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions questioning the handling of the case.