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US anti-Islamist pastor to give speech in Britain
Source: Agencies |
December 13, 2010, Monday
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AN American Christian preacher who rose from obscurity to cause global uproar this year by threatening to burn the Koran says he plans to visit Britain to speak at an event hosted by a far-right, anti-Islamist group.
Anti-extremist groups have urged the British government to ban entry to Florida Pastor Terry Jones, whose threat to burn Islam's holy book on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks provoked widespread condemnation.
Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May said yesterday she would be looking into the case.
On his website, Jones said he had been invited to a rally held by a group called the English Defence League (EDL) in the town of Luton, north of London, in February.
"During the protest, Dr Terry Jones will speak against the evils and destructiveness of Islam in support of the continued fight against the Islamification (sic) of England and Europe," the website said.
Jones, who heads a tiny church called the Dove World Outreach Center, dropped his Koran-burning plan after it provoked outrage across the Muslim world and a warning from United States President Barack Obama that the action would have helped al-Qaida.
The EDL has staged protests in towns and cities across Britain against Islamic extremism since its formation last year and many of its demonstrations have led to violent confrontations with opponents and police.
Eleven people were arrested at a demonstration by the group in Peterborough in central England on Saturday, and the head of one regional counter-terrorism unit has said the EDL marches had actually helped radicalize some Muslims.
Just under three percent of Britain's population of around 62 million describe their religion as Muslim.
Protests by Islamist extremists rarely attract more than a few dozen people in Britain, whereas the EDL marches tend to draw a few hundred to a couple of thousand.
Anti-extremist groups have urged the British government to ban entry to Florida Pastor Terry Jones, whose threat to burn Islam's holy book on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks provoked widespread condemnation.
Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May said yesterday she would be looking into the case.
On his website, Jones said he had been invited to a rally held by a group called the English Defence League (EDL) in the town of Luton, north of London, in February.
"During the protest, Dr Terry Jones will speak against the evils and destructiveness of Islam in support of the continued fight against the Islamification (sic) of England and Europe," the website said.
Jones, who heads a tiny church called the Dove World Outreach Center, dropped his Koran-burning plan after it provoked outrage across the Muslim world and a warning from United States President Barack Obama that the action would have helped al-Qaida.
The EDL has staged protests in towns and cities across Britain against Islamic extremism since its formation last year and many of its demonstrations have led to violent confrontations with opponents and police.
Eleven people were arrested at a demonstration by the group in Peterborough in central England on Saturday, and the head of one regional counter-terrorism unit has said the EDL marches had actually helped radicalize some Muslims.
Just under three percent of Britain's population of around 62 million describe their religion as Muslim.
Protests by Islamist extremists rarely attract more than a few dozen people in Britain, whereas the EDL marches tend to draw a few hundred to a couple of thousand.
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