Some (mixed) good news from THE AGE today (September 10, 2010 – 8:37am);
The evangelical Christian pastor from Florida who was threatening to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday’s ninth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks has abandoned his plan.
Pastor Terry Jones (Evangelical Christian Pastor from Florida) has abandoned his plan to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday’s ninth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, but Imam Abdul Ruaf has stated that the Mosque and Muslim Culture centre, two blocks from Ground Zero, will not be relocated.
The plan to burn 200 copies of the Koran at the Gainesville site of the Dove World Outreach Centre had provoked worldwide condemnation and a sharp rebuke from President Barack Obama who on Thursday called on the pastor to abandon his “destructive act” that could cause “serious violence” for American troops in Afghanistan.
Pastor Jones said that he only made this decision because he had received assurances the site of the planned mosque and Muslim culture centre would be relocated. He told a news conference that he had “clinched a deal” with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf (head of the mosque planning group) and that the Imam’s willingness to relocate the mosque as a “sign from God” that had allowed him to cancel the Koran burning.
Mr Abdul Rauf said in a statement that he had not spoken to the pastor,
I am glad that Pastor Jones has decided not to burn any Korans…however; I have not spoken to Pastor Jones. I am surprised by [the] announcement. We are not going to toy with our religion or any other. Nor are we going to barter. We are here to extend our hands to build our hands to build peace and harmony.
Mr Jones said he had agreed to meet with the Imam on Saturday to discuss the relocation, but the imam said
he could not withdraw the plan because that would embolden radicals of all faiths and create security risks for the US and Americans abroad. If we move from that location, the story will be that the radicals have taken over the discourse…the headlines in the Muslim world will be that Islam is under attack. And I’m less concerned about the radicals in America than I am about the radicals in the Muslim world.
Sadly, since Pastor Terry Jones has said that he will not burn Korans on Saturday, another minister, Reverend Bob Old of Disciples of Christ Tennessee, plans to burn a copy of the holy Koran to mark the anniversary of September 11. He said that he intends to set fire to a Koran at his home and post a video of the burning Muslim holy book online. He says of Muslims,
If they want to have their religion, they can have it somewhere else…I believe that other religions are a threat to our faith and our beliefs.
Other Tennessee religious leaders have denounced his plans calling him crazy and a nut, and that they were sorry that anyone who names the name of Christ would do this.
Amir Arain, spokesman for the Islamic Centre of Nashville said that
he hoped Reverend Old would change his mind before Saturday…We will pray that God gives him wisdom.
Please join with me in praying that this minister does indeed see reason like Pastor Jones.
Read Mosque deal denied as evangelist abandons Koran bonfire, here , Another US minister plans Koran burning, here, and other related articles here.
See earlier 9/11anniversary: a time to grow not destroy and the reasons why I teach a seminar on Islam, Bishop teaches Islam?
