THE Daily Mail, in its editorial of August 6th had commented on the heinous crime that a Florida church is promoting an event where it will burn copies of the Quran to mark the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the U.S. In the announcement on its Facebook page, The Dove World Outreach Centre of Gainesville, Florida, asked other religious groups to join in standing “against the evil of Islam. Islam is of the devil!” The church is hosting the event to remember the victims of the September 11, 2001 attack and has extended an invitation to all the Christians to burn the Muslim holy book at its premises from 6 pm to 9 pm. “We believe that Islam is of the devil, that it’s causing billions of people to go to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a violent religion and that is proven many, many times,” church pastor Terry Jones told CNN. The church has promoted the event through the internet by setting up a website, a Facebook page as well as YouTube video. The Facebook page, which reads “Eternal fire is the only destination the Quran can lead people to, so we want to put the Quran in its place – the fire!” The Facebook event has received more than 1,600 “Like” recommendations by users, but had also been attacked with a number of threatening messages posted on the page and corresponding anti-Islam rants. Pastor Terry Jones - who has written a book titled “Islam is of The Devil” and sells T-shirts bearing the same message - defended the controversial event. “Islam and Sharia law was responsible for 9/11,” Jones told Agence France-Presse. “We will burn Korans because we think it’s time for Christians, for churches, for politicians to stand up and say no; Islam and Sharia law is not welcome in the U.S. The page has sparked off an outrage and anger on Facebook with many organizations and groups starting a campaign calling for the admin to remove the page. Jones claims in the You Tube video: “I mean ask yourself, have you ever really seen a really happy Muslim? As they’re on the way to Mecca? As they gather together in the mosque on the floor? Does it look like a real religion of joy? No, to me it looks like a religion of the devil!” “We’ve got many death threats from jihad groups, but we cannot react by fear and we cannot compromise our beliefs. Somebody must stand up.”
Apparently The Daily Mail’s plea fell on deaf ears and The Dove World Outreach Centre has continued with its heinous agenda in the name of “freedom of speech”. Realizing the gravity of the crime and its possible backlash, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan has warned that the planned burning of the Muslim holy book could be exploited by the Taliban for propaganda purposes and could endanger U.S. troops and damage the overall war effort in that country. General David Petraeus said it could stoke anti-U.S. sentiment not only in Afghanistan, but across the Muslim world. US secretary of state joins General Petraeus in condemning plans by the small Florida church to burn copies of the Quran on September 11. Hillary Clinton has added her name to a long list of those who have condemned plans by a Florida church to burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of 9/11 as “a warning to radical Islam”. The US secretary of state expressed her disapproval at a dinner to celebrate the breaking of the Ramadan fast, calling the proposed burning a “disrespectful, disgraceful act”. The Vatican on Wednesday denounced as “outrageous and grave” plans by the Christian minister in Florida to burn copies of the Quran to mark the Sept. 11 anniversary. Pope Benedict XVI has declared that every religion’s sacred books, places of worship, and symbols have the right to respect and protection. If the Florida pastor still continues with his planned desecration of Islam’s Holy Book, then he should be dismissed as a mad man, who dares defy the Pope and is oblivious of the consequences of his atrocious act. We as Muslims should forgive him for Allah has promised that He will protect His Holy Book and surely Pastor Terry Jones will perish in Hell.
