Minister resolute on Quran burning
Source: Agencies |
September 9, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE leader of a Florida church said yesterday he was determined to go through with his plan to burn copies of the Quran on September 11, despite pressure from the White House, religious leaders and others to call it off.
"We are still determined to do it, yes," the Reverend Terry Jones said.
He said he had received death threats and has started carrying a gun since announcing his plan to burn the book Muslims consider the word of God and insist be treated with utmost respect.
The 58-year-old minister proclaimed in July that he would stage "International Burn-a-Quran Day."
Supporters have been mailing copies of the text to his Gainesville church of about 50 followers to be incinerated in a bonfire on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
General David Petraeus, the top United States and NATO commander in Kabul, warned that "images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan - and around the world - to inflame public opinion and incite violence."
Petraeus yesterday spoke with Afghan President Karzai about the matter, according to military spokesman Colonel Erik Gunhus.
"They both agreed that burning of a Quran would undermine our efforts in Afghanistan and jeopardize the safety of coalition troopers and civilians," Gunhus said.
Jones has refused to cancel the protest at his Dove World Outreach Center but said he was still praying about it.
"How much do we back down? How many times do we back down?" Jones said. "Instead of us backing down, maybe it's time to stand up."
The Vatican denounced the plan as "outrageous and grave."
David Axelrod, senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said: "The reverend may have the right to do what he's doing but it's not right. It's not consistent with our values."
Staffan de Mistura, head of the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan, expressed concern and outrage "in the strongest possible terms."
"We are still determined to do it, yes," the Reverend Terry Jones said.
He said he had received death threats and has started carrying a gun since announcing his plan to burn the book Muslims consider the word of God and insist be treated with utmost respect.
The 58-year-old minister proclaimed in July that he would stage "International Burn-a-Quran Day."
Supporters have been mailing copies of the text to his Gainesville church of about 50 followers to be incinerated in a bonfire on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
General David Petraeus, the top United States and NATO commander in Kabul, warned that "images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan - and around the world - to inflame public opinion and incite violence."
Petraeus yesterday spoke with Afghan President Karzai about the matter, according to military spokesman Colonel Erik Gunhus.
"They both agreed that burning of a Quran would undermine our efforts in Afghanistan and jeopardize the safety of coalition troopers and civilians," Gunhus said.
Jones has refused to cancel the protest at his Dove World Outreach Center but said he was still praying about it.
"How much do we back down? How many times do we back down?" Jones said. "Instead of us backing down, maybe it's time to stand up."
The Vatican denounced the plan as "outrageous and grave."
David Axelrod, senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said: "The reverend may have the right to do what he's doing but it's not right. It's not consistent with our values."
Staffan de Mistura, head of the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan, expressed concern and outrage "in the strongest possible terms."
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