With the anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaching, many Muslim-Americans are awaiting the date with anxiety and even fear. This year’s 9/11 has been declared by Florida Reverend Terry Jones to be “Burn the Koran Day.”
The Reverend, head of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, organized the event and plans to continue with the project, despite extensive fine warnings from the city and greater worries that there could be violent opposition around the world.
Although the Center boasts 50 active members, the event’s Facebook page lists almost 8,000 fans and continues to be circulated around the internet. Last year, the Center made news for designing and distributing t-shirts that read, “Islam is the Devil.”
Speaking on the prospective burning, General David Petraeus has announced a fear that this event could endanger US soldiers in Afghanistan. His email to reporters read, “Images of the burning of a Qur'an would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan—and around the world—to inflame public opinion and incite violence.”
In 2005, 15 were killed in riots in Afghanistan when an alleged news story that Qurans were being flushed down toilets in Guantanamo Bay was released. Petraeus fears that these same images can incite attacks in Afghanistan once more, “undermin[ing] our efforts to accomplish the critical mission here.”
The White House echoed the sentiments of General Petraeus in a press briefing today.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), an organization with around 1.5 million members, has also condemned the attacks, calling them, “selfish.” Head of the group, Richard Eubank, says, “The only thing Muslims will remember and our enemies will exploit was American laws permitted American citizens to burn the Islamic holy book without consequence.”
Earlier this week, several hundreds of people in Kabul protested the proposed burning, chanting “Death to America,” and setting US flags to fire.
At the National Press Club in Washington, DC, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) organized an interfaith group of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders who gathered to denounce the burning and stand against “an atmosphere of fear and intolerance.”
Speaking on the incident, senior adviser to the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Dr. Maher Hathout has said, “We should not honor it with any strong reaction. At the same time, we should invite people, our fellow citizens, for meetings, discussions, and symposia to let them know what this Qur'an is, suffice it to know that this person who is burning these copies will be burning the story of Moses, the story of Jesus, the honor of Mary, the whole saga of great Prophets, and the three religions from Noah to Abraham to Muhammad (PBUH).”
In preparation for the incident, Florida police have held meetings on how best to prepare for the incident and potential responses of violence. Few details, aside from a required ID checkpoint, have emerged however.
On a related note, the Department of Justice has been investigating a number of anti-Muslim incidents in the wake of the Park 51 mosque controversy and the Quran burning event. FBI agents and investigators are also looking into incidents of mosque vandalism.
Attorney General Eric Holder has allegedly called Reverend Jones’ event “idiotic” following a meeting with Muslim leaders this week.
According to Justice spokesman Matthew Miller, in the past 18 months, the Department of Justice “has prosecuted three men who burned a mosque in Tennessee, two others who burned an African-American church in Massachusetts and another who spray-painted threats on a synagogue in Alabama, among other cases. Violence against individuals or institutions based on religious bias is intolerable and the Department will bring anyone who commits such crimes to justice."
Mohammad Munsur
Oh and, by the way.... would you like it if someone burns the bible? just take your time and think, imagine if it were christians to take Our place(muslims) and someone created Burn The Bible Day,how would you feel???
April 18, 2011
Mohammad M.
I thought USA could learn to forgive people? Do not think the rest are bad just because of the action of individuals! And James Khoder, well said I agree with you!
April 18, 2011
muni
verses like the ones stated above by abdulameer are misused.there is no place where honour killing is mentioned in the quran. in the part of nigeria where i come from there is no such thing as honour killing, female genital mutilation orarranged marriage.
September 27, 2010
sally
BobbyG i cannot agree with your comment more !
this is so very true how they treat the women.
Honour killings are ok in their country as well as if a woman or young girl are raped they are sentenced to death with stoning.
that is degrading and inhumane !
how is this ok how do we stnad their and watch this. women have less rights than animals in their world, each to their own just dont bring this muslim sh*t to our fine country.
September 23, 2010
Rashidmr
Peace be with you brothers and sisters, Assalam alekum First of all, 9/11 incident is not yet proved that its done by muslim. Media tells Al qaedah PRIME SUSPECT. There are many movies on 9/11 made by christians that proves its INSIDE JOB. Before the battle field, battle should start in hearts and mind of the people on both the side. So! Ministers and media have already achieved that state. This is the sign of last battle, which will be fought between the truth and evil. Fundametalism is rising in the west. Allah says, finally my riteous servants will inherit the land.
September 14, 2010
Mahdi
in the name of God
flag of America is different with Quran!
I do not agree that your great country's flag be burned
As a proud Muslim if someone take my Holy Book to the fire I do not see a reason that i am burned their country's flag or their holy things
but this medieval priest want a Crusade!
his and his Views has been sidelined and Cursed by God
and Great God is said in Quran :
Verily those who blaspheme Our revelations are not hid from Us. Is he then who will be cast into the Fire better or he who cometh secure on the Day of Resurrection? Work whatsoever ye will; Verily He is of that which ye work the Beholder. (Quran:41:40)
Verily those who disbelieve in the Admonition when it cometh Unto them are themselves to blame. Verily it is a Book mighty. (Quran:41:41)
Muslims who oppress others in fact does not Muslims And such wicked go to Hell like other wickeds
September 12, 2010
Gustavo Gutierrez
Melvin, there is no Muslim effort to subvert and conquer the US. Besides, the US Constitution is already compliant to the principles of shariah (which simply respects the concept of natural rights and human dignity, concepts enshrined in US constitutional law).
September 10, 2010
melvin
Pastor Jones is defending the US Constitution against Sharia law which is a desert/jungle law.
Hey! Pastor Jones is a hero who fight for you and the Americans and their children.
Do you want your children under Sharia law? Sharia law is a retarded law practiced 1,400 years ago in the desert.
The Muslims should go back to the deserts if they want to enforce Sharia law here!
September 10, 2010
bobbyg
This man is an American Patriot. Obviously he has the right to burn the Koran the bible or any other book he wants to. We see in the news each day the Muslims of the world burning our flag, marching in the streets, chanting Death to America, burning effigies of our Presidents, which evidentally is just fine with our Government and our Islamic President, who by the way was really born in Kenya. The media and Government always tell us we are not at war with the Muslim Religion, but so called peaceful muslims site on their hands while the so called radicals kill as many infidels as possible. The Koran is an evil book. It does not teach peace and tollorance, but world domination by killing or converting all the non believers. All women suffer under this religion. They are raped and mutilated. Mohammed himself married a 9 year old girl and then had sex with her at age 12. In a civilized world this is not acceptable but in the islamic world this is totally acceptable. True Americans have had it with the Muslim people and the Islamic religion. To the Muslim people, chill out and go burn a Flag.
September 9, 2010
DaGreenLantern
Dear Quran Burners: You are Only Hurting Yourselves because Jesus (PBUH) is mentioned more times than Muhammad (S) in the Quran. Mary, the mother of Jesus has a chapter named after her in the Quran. All the great Prophets of the Bible: Adam, Abraham, Moses, Noah & Jesus (Peace Be Upon Them All) are All mentioned in t...he Quran. So please look inside the book & read a little bit before you decide to Burn it!
September 8, 2010
She_Muslim
some of the comments on here are truely sickening.
September 8, 2010
aftaf adeeb
Vivian, thanks for sharing you comments. My understanding is that the Qur'an is not the word of the Prophet Muhammad. There are Islamic sources, the hadith, which are sayings of the Prohpet, which are quite different from the Islam's holy book. As for marrying a girl. I am not sure of your sources. There is a lot of heresay, especially when it comes to Islam. Of course we were not there and may not understand the social customs of the period, but there are MANY sources that refudiate that the Prophet's wife, A'isha, was a child bride. And on a side note, it is well documented that about one-third of Islamic law is derived from Ai'sha, who went on to become of the thee most influential and important people in the ethos of Islam.
September 8, 2010
jj
Burn the bible and quran!!! Enough of these backwards barbaric fairytales!! This rubbish is pulling the world into war for the 20th time...
September 8, 2010
jhangeer khan
hi i urge this mad man 2 stop this religious biggotry as a actions of a handful are reflecting a population of over 1.2 billion. All he is doin is encouraging more & more people 2 carry out hate crimes against the west. He is playing in the hands of the wannabe terrorists pls read this & stop ur campaign.
September 8, 2010
PETER FORD
***COMMENTS REMOVED BY ADMIN***
September 8, 2010
KariInSK
This man is a sadly informed jerk. Do you know that the Koran says that there are three women who have lived a perfect, god fearing life - Momahhamed's sister, his wife, and Mary - mother of Jesus. When you burn the Koran, you are saying the the mother of Jesus is a bad. Not too bright. I have a simple fix. I'm sure there are plenty of atheists who don't approve of burning ANY book. How about this group people set up right next to Koran burning, and for every Koran burnt, 2 bibles are burnt. This pastor will be left to clean up a nasty incident where he initiated it.
September 8, 2010
another muslim
it saddened me to think that people nowadays cant discover the true beauty in islam just because of some accusations (there's no actual proof that 9/11 was done by a muslim).
September 8, 2010
pigeon
Koran: Kill all the kafirs whenever you find them!
Thanks pastor, there are 5.3 billions non-Muslims solidly supporting you from behind.
Burn this this archaic and evil book on our behalves!
Thanks Pastor Jones!
September 8, 2010
Bill
I think that the Minister should not burn the Koran. However, I can see the point he is making. If we burn a book that contains some truth and untruth - we are told we will die or our families made to suffer. We are told by media that "Jesus told us to love". But when Christians are told (by the media and our president) to shut up and keep the name of Jesus out of school, prayer out of school and keep the name of Jesus out of millitary or public prayers - then the tide has turned and Muslims and other people of foreign nations have told us how to run our country. How? Americans have allowed this to happen to us because we have turned our backs on God and His Son Jesus Christ. President Obama said it and it is becoming more and more true " we are not a Christian nation" - We were established on Christian principles, we established freedom of religion, but because Christian Americans have remained silent for so long and not aligned ourselves with God and let the gods of pagan and idol worshippers come in and tell us how to live, we are paying the price. Now a few want America back. The 60-70% of Americans who could care less have lead the way to this lethargic despair and silence (many at one time said they were Christians). Do you stop it by burning a book? No you stop this by Keeping Christ and God first in everything including politics and home and family and life. Then you tell the lost about repentance from sin and salvation in Christ Jesus and his radical perspective of self sacrifice and death on the cross on our behalf. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (New International Version) 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. I think the Minister has guts. I think he is simply making a point. No intent to harm anyone - I believe he is right when he says the muslims are trying to take over the USA. If they were honest all of them would admit it - that is their mandate - they are trying to take over the world, just as All true Christians are to tell the Whole world that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and He is the only way to salvation forgiveness and peace - peace in your heart mind and soul. Take a "Pill people" - who will you choose to become a part of Muslims who will kill you, threaten you and take away your rights because you burn a book? or Jesus Christ who forgives and saves and changes a mans heart. Is the minister a man of hate - no, he hasn't threatened anyones life. He hasn't convinced us to hate. But I believe he has brought us to our feet to say we are sick of having Muslims and or anyone else, that does not believe in the laws and or constitution and or the declaration of independence or the principals established by God or His son Jesus Christ and His Holy Bible, trying to shove anything down our throats. We are Americans - don't let anyone change that.
September 8, 2010
james sweatt
why do you want to do such a thing that would be like them burning our bible I thought that we are suppose to belive in forgivneass and tolration not hate this is hate and not in the way of jesus why is he doing this is this for his ego must be I dont see the good in it
September 8, 2010
James Khoder
if u want continue commenting about Islam you should obtain a Koran book and read it .. there you will find many contradiction about their existence and where did Islam came from, it is a way of life and this life has its own laws, these laws they came from Allah (GOD) as they say it came down on the Profit Mohammed who is the last profit after all the Profits from moses to Abraham to Joseph and Jesus ... Please read All the books that GOD made for Humanity, and u can find many comment grounds between the Three religions,
I find as in Islam GOD has sent a message for us Humans to live on the path of righteousness, he baned many unpleasant habits such as cheating on wives, drinking alcohol, then please read the bible and compare between the two books .. after reading both books in real depth and in details ... then and only then your allowed to comment on what i wrote ... I am a Catholic Christian i have read for many years the Koran in depth along with The bible and made every idea about there common thing and difference ... Please all you ignorant Pastures and People Specially one who want to burn the Koran Ask this Question on your self :
1- Put yourself in the place where the Islam People want to burn the bible .. what is your reaction ? .
and yes if you people want to burn the koran in Florida that will have many consequences on the troops in the mid-east....
PLZ read this comment and think about it
September 8, 2010
pigeon
Islam is for the stone age. Islam has no place in this modern era of 21st century.
Islam will be at 'peace' if best kept with the desert boundaries, else we have this problem.
September 8, 2010
Mika
Muslim women look at other women in disgust if they are not covered head to toe, if they were tolerant of other religions than maybe others would be tolerant of them to.
A women should not be treated like an animal and have the same rights as men which they do not believe is acceptable. A women should be allowed to wear a bikini on the beach and should not have to cover themselves to stop the muslim men from raping them, as women are stoned to death for being raped.
September 8, 2010
Jace
Why are they allowed to build a mosque near where the atrocity happened but we may not do so much as burn a book. People are always told to stand up for themselves, a man does this and gets condemned by many, he is receiving death threats from muslims, i do not believe he was going to be killing anyone but simply burning a book!
September 8, 2010
rob
I think the quran should be displayed in libraries since its not inspired by a divine being, just from an earthly man named muhammad...People have a right to burn these books in America just like they have a right to burn the flag or any other item they feel free to do.....It's what makes us different & unique
September 8, 2010
hannah
I fully agree with this man ! So is it ok for Islamic people to kill thousands of people with no consequences? is it ok for them to burn flags? is it ok to destroy lives? is it ok for them to record themselves dancing and proud of what they did to the towers and pentagon?
I am from Australia and my own mother was supposed to be on that flight for business, the only reason she could not make it 9 years ago was because she was too pregnant to be allowed to fly!
is it ok that Islamic people stone women and regard them as trash?
If i was living in America i would also be joining him.
September 8, 2010
Val
I believe that Americans have free speech until it infringes on the right's of others. You can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater. Why??? Because of the panic that would ensue and the potential for people to be hurt of killed as a result. Why is this any different? There are people in the know who have said that this is going to cause a code red alert in every part of the world due to one stubborn, delusional, idiot. What I'm saying is that our government should step in and stop him by arresting him if possible. His "right" to deliberately offend millions of people who will more than likely retaliate in the killing of innocent people is no longer a right, but an indulgence that cannot be tolerated as free "speech". He already said what he wanted to say about this and that is where his right to free SPEECH should end. For that matter flag burning should not be considered free speech either. If our Government can sue a state in our union just for trying to enforce it's own laws, then surely they can be BOLD enough to arrest this nut for conspiracy to commit sedition which is exactly what he is doing when he is putting our troops at more risk than they are already facing.
September 8, 2010
Des wilson
I with you God Bless.
September 8, 2010
sam
if some one burns the koran there will be violence all over the world than there will be war between religions the best way is to respect every religion
September 8, 2010
Jonathan
I want to ask one Question. Why do Americans not get this fired up when people burn our flag?
September 8, 2010
a muslim
tell me, would you be at peace if someone killed your own mother????
September 8, 2010
Andy
General Petraeus and the VFW say that the burning of the Koran would put US soldiers at risk, how can this be, why should Muslims kill Americans because some hick pastor burned their holy book?
I've been told repeatedly that Islam is a religion of peace.
September 8, 2010
_001.jpg)
