Pastor Terry Jones suspends plan to burn the Koran
Terry Jones, Pastor of an obscure 30-member Pentecostal Church – Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, has been the epicenter of both national and global controversies in connection with his stunt on burning copies of the Muslims’ Holy book, the Quran on 9/11, the 9th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and other strategic sites in the United States. In his press conference in Gainesville, he called the event ‘Burn-a-Koran day’ would go ahead after receiving about 100 death threats. But on Thursday, he suspended his protest, putting on hold his plan, provided he could meet with Muslim leaders on Saturday and have them move the construction of an Islamic Center away from the proximity of Ground Zero, to some other place. He’s trying to make a national statement on this memorable day. (Photo: Author: Roland Marke)
“Jesus would not run around burning books, but I think he would burn this one” Jones told ABC News this week. “We’re definitely prepared to do this. We’re definitely prepared to give our lives for this particular message.” Numerous comments came from all around the world, as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair pleaded with him not to go ahead with his plan to do this during a bonfire at his church in Gainesville.
Jones is cleverly trying to promote his book: Islam is of the Devil, along with shirts and mugs bearing similar anti-Islamic messages, the New York Daily News said. The pastor said: “Instead of us backing down, maybe, it’s time to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behavior.” Blair added his comment to those of White House, the Vatican, the Commander of International forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraus and film star Angelina Jolie, urging Jones to call off his protest.
President Barack Obama says the pastor’s plan to burn copies of the Koran on 9th anniversary of 9/11 is a “recruitment bonanza for al-Qaeda,” as outrage has built across the world. He warned that the destructive act would inflame violence, endanger US troops and lead to increased threat of terrorism against Western civilian targets.
‘You could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan. This could increase the recruitment of individuals who would be willing to blow themselves up in US cities or European cities he said. This is a recruitment bonanza for al-Qaeda.” If he’s listening, I hope he understands that what he’s proposing to do is completely contrary to our values as Americans. That this country has been built on the notion of freedom and religious tolerance.” And as a practical matter, I just want him to understand that this stunt that he’s talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women in uniform.
Indonesia and Pakistan two of the world’s largest Muslim nations, have urged President Obama to ban the book burning an international campaign to put pressure on the US authorities grows in the Islamic world. Susilio Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia’s leader has written to Obama asking him to personally intervene to stop irreparable damage to relations between the West and Muslims, which threaten world peace.” “There is deep concern over the planned Koran burning ceremony as it could spark conflict among religions.” This personal appeal from Indonesia will put Obama, who spent 4 of his childhood years living in Jakarta, under intense pressure to ban the Koran burning in order to prevent a violent backlash across the Islamic world. But he’s under domestic pressure not to be seen to give into Muslims ahead of Saturday’s 9/11 terrorist attacks amid a heated American row over Islam and a proposed mosque near NY’s Ground Zero.
Sarah Palin said it’s an “insensitive and an unnecessary provocation:” People have a constitutional right to burn a Koran if they want to, but doing so is insensitive and unnecessary provocation – much like building a mosque at Ground Zero, she said. About 200 lawyers were among protesters who marched and burned US flag in Central Pakistan; city of Multan, demanding that Washington halt the burning of the Muslim holy book.
Anjem Choudary, former leader of the banned Islamist organization Islam4UK, is calling on radicals groups world-wide to burn American flags outside US embassies in retaliation. Blair who founded a faith foundation after leaving office to promote understanding between the world’s religions said, “I deplore the act of burning the Koran. It’s disrespectful, wrong and will be widely condemned by people of all faiths. In no way does this represent the view of any sensible person in the west or any other part of the world. He added: Those who wish to cause religious conflict are small in number but often manage to dominate the headlines. You don’t have to be a Muslim to share a sense of deep concern of such a disrespectful way to treat the Holy Book of Islam. Rather than burn the Koran, I would encourage people to read it.”
However, Imam Koroma an immigrant from Sierra Leone, who lives in Ohio, said that Jones is merely seeking attention for his own selfish end. Any religion that does not preach and promote peace is not of God. Koroma is married to a Christian wife, whose father was a pastor, and she’s free to practice her own faith without hindrance. Sierra Leone is a model African country where religious tolerance is not a novelty. And Muslims and Christians get along very well. Religious intermarriages are very common and functional there. Presently, some women are converting to Christianity because of the fear of their husbands marrying more than one wife as permissible by Islam.
Roland Bankole Marke © 2010Roland B. Marke is a freelance writer from Sierra Leone based in Florida. His published work include 3 books: Teardrops Keep Falling, Silver Rain and Blizzard and Harvest of Hate: Stories and Essays. He has published scores of articles around the world. His short stories and poems have been anthologized. His website is www.rolandmarke.com
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