Thursday, September 9, 2010

9/11 Pastor Terry Jones: 'Jesus would have burned the Koran'

The Florida pastor intends to burn Islam’s holy book on Saturday, the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, despite receiving more than 100 death threats.

"Jesus would not run around burning books, but I think he would burn this one,” he said told broadcaster ABC according to a report in the New York Daily News.

“We are definitely prepared to do this. We are definitely prepared to give our lives for this particular message."

His comments came as Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister, pleaded with the pastor not to go ahead with his plan to burn Islam’s holy text on a bonfire at his Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville.

Jones is also selling his book, Islam is of the Devil, along with shirts and mugs bearing similar anti-Islamic messages, the New York Daily News said.

Explaining his plan, Mr Jones said: ''Instead of us backing down, maybe it's time to stand up. Maybe it's time to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behaviour.''

Mr Blair added his voice to those of the White House, the Vatican, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan General David Petraeus and film star Angelina Jolie, who all urged pastor Terry Jones to call off his protest.

Sky News reported that Anjem Choudary, former leader of the banned Islamist organisation Islam4UK, is calling on radical Muslim groups around the world to burn American flags outside US embassies in retaliation.

n a statement, Mr 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 is disrespectful, wrong and will be widely condemned by people of all faiths and none. In no way does this represent the view of any sensible person in the West or any other part of the world.''

The former PM added: ''Those who wish to cause religious conflict are small in number but often manage to dominate the headlines.

''You do not have to be a Muslim to share a sense of deep concern at such a disrespectful way to treat the Holy Book of Islam.

''Rather than burn the Koran, I would encourage people to read it.''

Source

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