A protester who was attacked with a knife by a Muslim man enraged by the burning of the Koran has criticized the ‘disgraceful’ decision to not imprison the attacker, arguing that it exemplifies Britain’s ‘two-tier justice system’.

Activist Hamit Coskun, 51, vociferously yelled ‘f*** Islam’, ‘Islam is religion of terrorism’, and ‘Koran is burning’, while holding a burning Islamic text overhead outside the Turkish consulate during a protest in Knightsbridge on February 13.

Moussa Kadri, 59, exited a residential building, warning Mr. Coskun ‘I’m going to kill you’, and subsequently slashed at him with a bread knife. He later informed the police that he was safeguarding his religion.

But despite the horrific attack being caught on camera, Judge Adam Hiddleston handed Kadri a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail from his Midlands home, Mr. Coskun exploded: ‘We are confronted with double standards in dealing with Islamists in the UK. This decision emboldened Islamists. It’s an affront to the rule of law.’

‘There is a two-tier justice system in place. This situation is causing serious fractures in society.’

He exclaimed furiously: ‘I think Islamists have amplified their sway over UK politics. Even the bureaucracy has succumbed to intimidation. Kadri testified in court that he was defending his religion. His claim was considered as a mitigating factor.’

Reflecting on the verdict of Kadri’s trial at Southwark Crown Court, Mr. Coskun was dismayed: ‘I was astounded by the verdict. During the assault, Kadri aimed the knife at my throat. I was spared because I stepped back.’

‘The incident was clearly captured on camera.’ 

Mr Coskun claimed that if his attacker had not been Muslim then he would have been imprisoned and that the case also highlights the eroding of free speech in the UK.

He said: ‘Criticising Muslims has been made a crime. Freedom of expression is being eliminated. People are being arrested daily for their comments on social media.

‘Islamophobia is being used as a weapon to silence and intimidate people. Furthermore, by exonerating attackers like Kadri the judiciary is instilling fear in society.’

Kadri was also required to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation.

Mr Coskun said: ‘This erroneous and unlawful decision has been met with astonishment in international circles. There cannot be privileges in the law for Muslims. If the law is compromised in this way, then the path to social tensions will open.’

Following his burning of the Koran, Mr Coskun was convicted at Westminster Magistrates Court in June of a religiously aggravated public order offence.

An appeal against his conviction is due to be heard next month.

Mr Coskun had argued that his criticism was of Islam in general rather than its followers, but District Judge John McGarva said he could not accept this, finding that his actions were ‘highly provocative’ and ‘motivated at least in part by a hatred of Muslims’.

His case prompted campaigners to claim that it was an attempt to bring back blasphemy laws in the UK, which has been denied by the Government.

The decision to spare Kadri jail has also been criticised by free speech campaigners who have warned that extremist Muslims have been ‘given the green light to take the law into their own hands’. 

General secretary of the Free Speech Union Toby Young, said after Kadri’s sentencing: ‘This sends a green light to any Muslim who wants to enforce an Islamic blasphemy by taking the law into their own hands.

‘The court is effectively saying that if you attack a blasphemer with a knife, he will be convicted of causing you harassment, alarm or distress and you won’t have to spend a day behind bars.’

National Secular Society chief executive Stephen Evans said: ‘Free expression should never be met with violence.

‘Criticism or destruction of religious texts, however offensive to some, is a legitimate form of protest.

‘In a free and open democratic society, people must be free to challenge ideas and beliefs without fear of attack.’

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said he has written to the Director of Public Prosecutions to ask why tougher charges were not brought against the attacker.

He shared footage of the attacker slashing his knife and wrote: ‘This Islamist has dodged prison despite attacking a man with a knife for burning a Quran. I challenge anyone to watch the video and tell me he shouldn’t be locked up.’

Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho added: ‘Slashing at someone with a knife because they offended your religion by burning the Quran. No jail time.

‘Posting nasty words on Twitter. Jail time.’

Kadri, 59, of Kensington, west London, had pleaded guilty to assault and having a bladed article in a public place.

His trial heard that Coskun, who is half Kurdish and half Armenian, travelled from his home in the Midlands to set fire to the Koran.

Kadri approached and asked Coskun why he was burning it.

Coskun could be heard in footage making a reference to ‘terrorists’. 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 Koran.’

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.’