RADICAL Muslim groups around the world are planning to torch American flags in protest at a Florida church’s Koran-burning event – as a US military group vowed to replace each holy book that is incinerated.
The Reverend Terry Jones, the pastor at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, plans to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Saturday with a mass burning of the Muslim sacred text.
The controversial pastor has come under heavy criticism throughout the world with his hate-filled plans condemned by several international leaders, including General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Afghanistan, who said that the event would provide propaganda for insurgents and endanger U.S. and NATO troops on the ground.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, former British prime minister Tony Blair, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin have condemned the event.
Sky News reported today that Anjem Choudary, the former head of Islam4UK – a radical Islam group that operated in Britain until it was outlawed by the British government in January – has called for the burning of the American flag in retaliation.
He claims to have spoken to leaders of other Islam groups, including those in Belgium, Switzerland, Indonesia, who support him and plan to stage similar protests. Meanwhile, the US-based Military Religious Freedom Foundation said it would buy a new Koran and donate it to the Afghan National Army for each one burned by Rev. Jones and his supporters.
Founder and president Mikey Weinstein told CNN that more than 100 of the active duty troops that he represents had gotten in contact with him wanting to do something about the threat. He said his group wanted to make it clear to Afghan elders that not all Americans feel the same way as the congregation of the Dove World Outreach Center.
The pastor’s supporters have been mailing copies of the religious book to put on the bonfire at his church and Rev. Jones said yesterday he would not be cancelling the event. “Instead of us backing down, maybe it’s time to stand up. Maybe it’s time to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behavior,” he said.
Rev, Jones has found an unlikely supporter in a leading American imam, Muhammed Musri, who said the two had found common ground in condemnation of terrorists. Mr Musri, the president of the Islamic society of Central Florida, met with Rev. Jones yesterday and said he was hopeful the pastor would cancel the event, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
He said Rev. Jones had promised to re-consider his decision to burn the Islamic holy book. “I think the man wants to do the right thing, wants to properly represent his faith and does not want to be called ‘bigot’ or ‘racist’ or ‘anti-‘anything,” Mr Musri said.
“He’s anti-terrorist, as we are all.” A spokesman for the Taliban said it “strongly condemn plans by a Florida church to burn the Koran, it shows they are against Islam and that Western countries will pay for it.” Also yesterday, Fox News TV personality Glenn Beck joined former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in condemning the Koran-burning, by comparing the action to “burning the flag or the Bible.”
He added: “Does this church have the right? Yes. Should they? No.”
Ms Palin said the plan was “antithetical to American ideals.”
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