MIAMI – An American Christian preacher who caused a worldwide uproar previous year by threatening to burn the Quran has put himself back in the spotlight after incinerating Islam’s holy book – again with deadly consequences.
Thousands of protesters in northern Afghanistan, infuriated over news that the Florida pastor Terry Jones had overseen a torching of the Koran, stormed a United Nations complex on Friday, killing at least seven U.N. staff.
Jones, a 58-year-old fundamentalist priest and the head of a little fringe church in Gainesville, Florida, drew worldwide condemnation in September over his plans to burn the Quran on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Several people were killed in protests then in Afghanistan and in a different place in the Muslim world.
Jones finally canceled that event under intense pressure from the U.S. government, the Pope, and other global leaders.
But he has remained an outspoken enemy of Islam, and says parts of the Quran can lead to violent behavior and terrorism.
On March 20, he presided over what he called an “International Judge the Quran Day” in which he take charge of the burning of the book in front of some 50 people.
Video posted on the website of his Dove World Outreach Center church showed a kerosene-soaked book going up in bright flames in a metal fire pit like to those often found in backyards and patios, but situated in the church.
He said shortly after the Quran burning, “We believe parts of the Koran, if taken literally, do lead to violence and terrorist activities, do promote racism or prejudice against minorities, against Christians, against women.”
He said, “The terrorist jihad people use the Quran.”
Various Muslim leaders, including Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, have condemned the burning and video.
Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe condemned the Quran burning and the Afghan violence it had caused.
Lowe said in a statement, “It’s important that the world and nation know that this particular individual and these actions are not representative of our community.”
Thousands of protesters in northern Afghanistan, infuriated over news that the Florida pastor Terry Jones had overseen a torching of the Koran, stormed a United Nations complex on Friday, killing at least seven U.N. staff.Jones, a 58-year-old fundamentalist priest and the head of a little fringe church in Gainesville, Florida, drew worldwide condemnation in September over his plans to burn the Quran on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Several people were killed in protests then in Afghanistan and in a different place in the Muslim world.
Jones finally canceled that event under intense pressure from the U.S. government, the Pope, and other global leaders.
But he has remained an outspoken enemy of Islam, and says parts of the Quran can lead to violent behavior and terrorism.
On March 20, he presided over what he called an “International Judge the Quran Day” in which he take charge of the burning of the book in front of some 50 people.
Video posted on the website of his Dove World Outreach Center church showed a kerosene-soaked book going up in bright flames in a metal fire pit like to those often found in backyards and patios, but situated in the church.
He said shortly after the Quran burning, “We believe parts of the Koran, if taken literally, do lead to violence and terrorist activities, do promote racism or prejudice against minorities, against Christians, against women.”
He said, “The terrorist jihad people use the Quran.”
Various Muslim leaders, including Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, have condemned the burning and video.
Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe condemned the Quran burning and the Afghan violence it had caused.
Lowe said in a statement, “It’s important that the world and nation know that this particular individual and these actions are not representative of our community.”
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