Prosecutors have removed references to “the institution of Islam” from charges against a man who burned a Koran in central London.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has amended a charge against Hamit Coskun, 50, who set fire to a copy of the Muslim holy book outside the Turkish consulate in London.
Coskun, who lives in Derby, is no longer accused of harassing the “religious institution of Islam” – with the CPS admitting it had “incorrectly applied” the term.
It has since substituted in a new charge to “more accurately reflect the alleged offence”.
MPs and lawyers had warned the original charge was akin to reintroducing blasphemy laws to Britain.
They had argued that it was “plainly defective” as the “religious institution of Islam” was not a person under the Public Order Act – under which Coskun was being charged.
A CPS statement released on Friday said: “We charged Hamit Coskun on the basis his actions caused harassment, alarm or distress – which is a criminal offence – and that this was motivated by hostility towards a religious or racial group.
“As part of our continuous review of ongoing cases we concluded the wording of the charge was incorrectly applied and we have substituted a new charge to more accurately reflect the alleged offence.”
And reacting to the news, outspoken Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “I welcome the decision to drop the charge of causing alarm to the ‘religious institution of Islam’.
“This was an invention that had no basis in law. It should not have required our campaign to force the CPS to change course.
“The updated charging decision by the CPS is still extremely concerning. Most people would condemn desecrating a religious text, but we live in a free country where people should be free to criticise and mock religion.
“We must resist any attempts to introduce blasphemy laws by the back door.”