General David Petraeus says move by US evangelical group to burn
Islam's holy book would threaten Americans worldwide
Associated Press
Wednesday September 8 2010
guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/07/us-church-quran-plan-endanger-troops
The leading US and Nato commander in Afghanistan today said threats by
a US church to burn copies of the Qur'an could endanger troops in
Afghanistan and Americans worldwide.
General David Petraeus's warning followed a protest by hundreds of
Afghans yesterday over plans by the Florida-based Dove World Outreach
Centre - an evangelical Christian church espousing anti-Islamic
philosophy - to burn copies of the Qur'an on church grounds [http://
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/12/ground-zero-mosque-islamophobia"
title="burn copies of the Quran on church grounds] to mark the
anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Several hundred Afghans rallied outside a Kabul mosque, burning
American flags and an effigy of Dove World's pastor and chanting:
"Death to America." Members of the crowd briefly pelted a passing US
military convoy with stones, but were ordered to stop by protest
organisers.
Two days earlier, thousands of Indonesian Muslims rallied outside the
US embassy in Jakarta and in five other cities to protest against the
church's plans.
"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," Petraeus said.
"I am very concerned by the potential repercussions. Even the rumour
that it might take place has sparked demonstrations such as the one
that took place in Kabul. Were the actual burning to take place, the
safety of our soldiers and civilians would be put in jeopardy and
accomplishment of the mission would be made more difficult."
Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the word of God and insist it be
treated with the utmost respect, along with any printed material
containing its verses or the name of Allah or the Prophet Muhammad.
Any intentional damage or show of disrespect to the Qur'an is deeply
offensive.
In 2005, 15 people died and scores were wounded in riots in
Afghanistan sparked by a story in Newsweek magazine which alleged that
interrogators at Guant?namo Bay placed copies of the Qur'an in
bathrooms and flushed one down a toilet. Newsweek later retracted the
story
The US embassy in Kabul issued a statement condemning the church's
plans, saying Washington was "deeply concerned about deliberate
attempts to offend members of religious or ethnic groups".
Dove World Outreach Centre, which made headlines last year after
distributing T-shirts that said "Islam is of the Devil" has been
denied a permit to set a bonfire but has vowed to proceed with the
burning.
guardian.co.uk Copyright (c) Guardian News and Media Limited. 2010
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