Afghans protest at US base after Qurans are burned with garbage
Source: Agencies |
February 22, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MORE than 2,000 angry Afghans protested outside Bagram Air Field yesterday, after learning that copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, were burned with garbage at the sprawling American military base north of Kabul.
US helicopters fired flares to try to break up the demonstrators chanting anti-foreigner slogans and throwing stones.
The demonstrators shouted, "die, die, foreigners!" Some fired rifles into the air. Others threw rocks at the gate of the base and set tires ablaze.
The burning of the Quran and other religious books was unintentional, said US General John Allen, the top commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
The incident stoked anti-foreign sentiment already on the rise and fueled the arguments of Afghans who claim foreign troops are not respectful of their culture or Islam.
Early yesterday, about 100 demonstrators gathered outside the base in Parwan province. As the crowd grew, so did the outrage.
One protester, Mohammad Hakim, said if US forces can't bring peace to Afghanistan, they should go home. "The next time they disrespect our religion, we will defend our holy Quran, religion and faith until the last drop of blood has left our bodies," Hakim said.
Ahmad Zaki Zahed, chief of the provincial council, said US officials took him to a burn pit where 60 to 70 books, including Qurans, were recovered. They were used by former detainees at the base, he said.
Allen said he had ordered an investigation and offered his apologies to the president and people of Afghanistan.
"I assure you, I promise you, this was not intentional in any way," Allen said.
Later, protesters ended the rally and said they would send 20 representatives to Kabul to meet President Hamid Karzai.
The governor's office in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan called the incident a "shameful move by some stupid individuals."
Separately, officials in Helmand province said insurgents beheaded four people on Sunday night in Washer district, claiming they were spies.
US helicopters fired flares to try to break up the demonstrators chanting anti-foreigner slogans and throwing stones.
The demonstrators shouted, "die, die, foreigners!" Some fired rifles into the air. Others threw rocks at the gate of the base and set tires ablaze.
The burning of the Quran and other religious books was unintentional, said US General John Allen, the top commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
The incident stoked anti-foreign sentiment already on the rise and fueled the arguments of Afghans who claim foreign troops are not respectful of their culture or Islam.
Early yesterday, about 100 demonstrators gathered outside the base in Parwan province. As the crowd grew, so did the outrage.
One protester, Mohammad Hakim, said if US forces can't bring peace to Afghanistan, they should go home. "The next time they disrespect our religion, we will defend our holy Quran, religion and faith until the last drop of blood has left our bodies," Hakim said.
Ahmad Zaki Zahed, chief of the provincial council, said US officials took him to a burn pit where 60 to 70 books, including Qurans, were recovered. They were used by former detainees at the base, he said.
Allen said he had ordered an investigation and offered his apologies to the president and people of Afghanistan.
"I assure you, I promise you, this was not intentional in any way," Allen said.
Later, protesters ended the rally and said they would send 20 representatives to Kabul to meet President Hamid Karzai.
The governor's office in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan called the incident a "shameful move by some stupid individuals."
Separately, officials in Helmand province said insurgents beheaded four people on Sunday night in Washer district, claiming they were spies.
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