Pastor may halt Koran burning if White House asks
A Florida pastor at the centre of a global storm over plans to burn hundreds of Korans said today he would likely call off the event if asked to by the Obama administration.
Terry Jones, head of the Dove World Outreach Center, told USA Today he had not been contacted by the White House, Pentagon or State Department about Saturday's planned ceremony on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
If he were "that would cause us definitely to think it over. That's what we're doing now. I don't think a call from them is something we would ignore," Jones told the daily.
US President Barack Obama has warned the burning ceremony would be a "recruitment bonanza" for Al-Qaeda, which carried out the 2001 attacks on the United States in which almost 3,000 people died.
"You know, you could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan," Obama told ABC television in an interview.
"This could increase the recruitment of individuals who'd be willing to blow themselves up in American cities, or European cities," he said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also condemned the plans as "disgraceful," while military leaders have warned it could endanger troops serving in Afghanistan and Pakistan, both Muslim countries.
The gun-toting pastor said the aim of Saturday's three-hour evening event in Gainesville, Florida, was to send a message to radical Islamists that "it is possibly time for us in a new way to actually stand up and confront terrorism."
But his tiny church of about 50 members has triggered fears that a violent wave of Islamic anger could ripple around the globe, similar to past controversies centered around Islam.
Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, who sparked Muslim outrage in 2006 with a drawing of the Prophet Mohammed, told German media that satire like his was "provocation. Provocation should lead to reflection, to enlightenment, to knowledge. In this case, this is really not the case."
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B.Attard
Sep 9th 2010, 20:42
If this had to happen in Malta the pastor would have been arrested straight away. And if there wasn't any breach of regulations for sure there would be an adjustment in the law without hesitation cause our laws and rules here in Malta are like chewing gum or a yo-yo!
H Zammit
Sep 9th 2010, 19:38
What kind of pastor are you Mr Terry Jones? Insulting other peoples religion and holy books will only trigger hatred. I am a christian and I would rather celebrate the Holy Bible rather than provoking and insulting Islam. So what if some silly fanatics burnt a USA flag, how did it hurt America? Why be like them instead of following our religious principles?
Joseph Sammut
Sep 9th 2010, 19:00
Terry Jones is a terrorist in his own way. In such a situation and considering the potential repurcussions, not only the White House shouldn't ask, it should remove Terry Jones from the scene on the basis that he is a world risk. The world is at war and the White House should take action appropriate to such a situation.
alexia farrugia
Sep 9th 2010, 18:18
The Prayer of St. Francis is the answer:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me show love;
where there is injury, pardon:
where there is doubt, faith ;
where there is despair, hope
where there is darkness, light
where there is sadness, joy
O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
a.dalli
Sep 9th 2010, 16:38
@Terry Jones, how can you be so vile and cheap.
President Obama has not gone off the rockers as yet and would do best not to get involved in such a way
D. Scerri
Sep 9th 2010, 16:28
Even though religions may be different, a Holy book should be treated with the respect it deserves. After all, millions of Muslims refer to the Koran everyday and through it seek ways how to glorify the Almighty. In my opinion, the Pastor's action should be halted as apart from offending Muslim communities all over the world, it could lead to more religious hate and violence.
Charles Sammut
Sep 10th 2010, 16:03
Millions of people seek drugs everyday for comfort and solace. It's all in the mind.