"The incidents happened on 13 February in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, when Coskun, 51, shouted "Islam is religion of terrorism" and "Quran is burning". Coskun, who is half Kurdish and half Armenian, travelled from his home in the Midlands and set fire to the Koran at about 14:00 GMT, prosecutors previously said. Kadri approached and asked Coskun why he was burning it. Coskun could be heard in footage making a reference to "terrorists", and Kadri swore, called him "an idiot" and said "one sec, I'm coming back". Kadri later returned holding a knife and slashed at Coskun, the court heard."
"The judge said that the way Kadri lost his temper was "disgraceful" and that the "use of blades is a curse on our community". Kadri said to Coskun: "Burning the Quran? It's my religion, you don't burn the Quran." He later told police: "I protect my religion." Greg Unwin, defending, said: "This was a response to a very unusual situation that Mr Kadri has demonstrated regret and remorse for. "His reaction was in the heat of the moment to what he perceived was a deeply offensive act on a holy book.""
On 13 February in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, Hamit Coskun travelled from the Midlands and set fire to the Koran while shouting provocations. Moussa Kadri, 59, confronted Coskun, left, then returned with a knife and slashed at him after hearing remarks about terrorists. Coskun was previously convicted of a religiously aggravated public order offence and lodged an appeal. Judge Adam Hiddleston described Kadri's loss of temper as disgraceful and noted the harm caused by blade use, but sentenced Kadri to 20 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months. Kadri told police he acted to protect his religion; his lawyer said he showed remorse.
Read at www.bbc.com
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