Muslims set fires in Buddhist temples
Source: Agencies |
October 1, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THOUSANDS of Bangladeshi Muslims angry over an alleged derogatory photo of the Islamic holy book Quran on Facebook set fires in at least 10 Buddhist temples and 40 homes near the southern border with Myanmar, authorities said yesterday.
The violence began late on Saturday and continued until early yesterday, said Nojibul Islam, a police chief in Cox's Bazar district.
He said the situation was under control yesterday after extra security officials were deployed and the government banned public gatherings in the troubled area.
He said at least 20 people were injured in the attacks that followed the posting of a Facebook photo of a burned copy of the Quran. The rioters blamed the photo on a local Buddhist boy, though it was not immediately clear if the boy posted the photo.
Bangladesh's popular English-language Daily Star newspaper quoted the boy as saying that the photo was mistakenly tagged on his Facebook profile. The newspaper reported that the boy's Facebook account was closed and police escorted him and his mother to safety.
Joinul Bari, chief government administrator in Cox's Bazar district, said authorities detained the boy's parents.
Buddhists make up less than 1 percent of Bangladesh's 150 million people.
The Bangladeshi violence follows protests that erupted in Muslim countries over the film "Innocence of Muslims," which denigrated the Prophet Muhammad.
The violence began late on Saturday and continued until early yesterday, said Nojibul Islam, a police chief in Cox's Bazar district.
He said the situation was under control yesterday after extra security officials were deployed and the government banned public gatherings in the troubled area.
He said at least 20 people were injured in the attacks that followed the posting of a Facebook photo of a burned copy of the Quran. The rioters blamed the photo on a local Buddhist boy, though it was not immediately clear if the boy posted the photo.
Bangladesh's popular English-language Daily Star newspaper quoted the boy as saying that the photo was mistakenly tagged on his Facebook profile. The newspaper reported that the boy's Facebook account was closed and police escorted him and his mother to safety.
Joinul Bari, chief government administrator in Cox's Bazar district, said authorities detained the boy's parents.
Buddhists make up less than 1 percent of Bangladesh's 150 million people.
The Bangladeshi violence follows protests that erupted in Muslim countries over the film "Innocence of Muslims," which denigrated the Prophet Muhammad.
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