Britain is "reviving blasphemy laws" by convicting and fining a man who burned a Koran, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has warned.

On Monday, Hamit Coskun was found guilty of a "religiously aggravated public order offence of using disorderly conduct" after setting fire to the book back in February.

He had shouted "f*** Islam" and "Islam is a religion of terrorism" while holding the Koran above his head - which led to him being violently attacked by a passer-by.

Westminster Magistrates' Court said his offence was motivated "in part by hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam".

PICTURED: Hamit Coskun leaving Westminster Magistrates' Court after his conviction and sentencing

But following its ruling, Jenrick has reacted with fury.

"This decision is wrong," he spat. "It revives a blasphemy law that Parliament repealed.

"Free speech is under threat. I have no confidence in two-tier Keir to defend the rights of the public to criticise all religions."

Also today, Coskun himself said: "This decision is an assault on free speech and will deter others from exercising their democratic rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression.

"As an activist, I will continue to campaign against the threat of Islam. Christian Blasphemy laws were repealed in this country more than 15 years ago and it cannot be right to prosecute someone for blaspheming against Islam.

'This decision is wrong,' Jenrick spat. 'It revives a blasphemy law that Parliament repealed'

"Would I have been prosecuted if I’d set fire to a copy of the bible outside Westminster Abbey? I doubt it."

The Crown Prosecution Service had said Coskun was not being prosecuted for burning the book - instead, he was in court for his remarks about Islam and the public nature of his offence.

It had initially charged him with harassing the "religious institution of Islam", which was then amended following a fierce campaign by the Free Speech Union (FSU) and the National Secular Society.

District Judge John McGarva said: "There was a real problem with the original charge, which referred to Islam as if it was a person, when it is not."

But he also insisted that Coskun's conviction was not "an attempt to bring back and expand blasphemy law".

'I have no confidence in two-tier Keir to defend the rights of the public to criticise all religions,' Jenrick fumed

A FSU spokesman said: "This is deeply disappointing. Everyone should be able to exercise their rights to protest peacefully and to freedom of expression, regardless of how offensive or upsetting it may be to some people.

"The Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society intend to appeal this verdict and keep on appealing it until it's overturned.

"If that means taking it all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, we will do so.

"Religious tolerance is an important British value, but it doesn't require non-believers to respect the blasphemy codes of believers.

"On the contrary, it requires people of faith to tolerate those who criticise and protest against their religion, just as their values and beliefs are tolerated."