Reverend refuses to cancel Koran burning

Koran burning condemned

VIDEO: Koran burning condemned

The planned mass burning of copies of the Koran in the US state of Florida has drawn worldwide condemnation.

Play

12345

Loading…Please login to rate a video.You can't rate an advertisement.

(no votes yet)

Koran burning condemned

The planned mass burning of copies of the Koran in the US state of Florida has drawn worldwide...

Views today: 19

Sorry, this video is no longer available.

REVEREND Terry Jones, who created an international firestorm when he planned an Koran-burning event at his Florida church on September 11, said yesterday that despite mounting pressure and opposition, he has "no intention of canceling" the event.

"As of this time we have no intention of canceling," said a defiant Jones. "We are not convinced that backing down is the right thing." he added that the burning was meant as an act to "stand up and confront terrorism."

The controversial pastor has comes under heavy criticism throughout the world after he announced plans to burn hundreds of Korans this Saturday to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The mass burning is scheduled to take place at Jones' congregation, the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida.

Jones spoke for only two minutes and did not take questions from reporters

He then left for a meeting with Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida in Orlando.

New Unique Weight Loss Method

Discover A New Revolutionary Method That Puts Your Weight Loss On Autopilot Quickly And Permanently Without Using Draining Diets Or Difficult Workout Programs

Musri told the Orlando Sentinel, "I have come to talk to him a man of faith to a man of faith. I come to ask him to follow his own scripture and love his own enemies."

Jones acknowledged that church members have received a tremendous amount of pressure but also said they have also received a tremendous amount of support.

One of those on hand was Robert Kunst, an independent congressional candidate from Miami Beach, who said he opposes the efforts by the Jones and the 50-member Gainesville church.

Holding a sign the read "No mosque at Ground Zero", Kunst, 68, said he believes the book-burning event is generating sympathy for Islam around the world.
 

"I'm not happy with what he's doing," Kunst said. "I think this is putting the issue in reverse."

Stephanie Sapp, one of the church's pastors, noted that the church has been targeted for vandalism because of its controversial stand. The church's cross is broken and the sign in front appears as if someone threw a rock through it.

Asked whether she was concerned, Sapp said, "We're confronting Islam. Anytime you do that you are going to be confronted by extremism."

The hate-filled plans have been condemned by several international leaders, including General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, who said that the event would provide propaganda for insurgents and endanger U.S. and NATO troops on the ground.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday that burning the holy book would be "disgraceful," while U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon said he was "deeply disturbed" by the news.

The Vatican chimed in Wednesday as well, saying that the burning would be "an outrageous and grave gesture."

Also adding their voices to the growing chorus of opposition yesterday were German Chancellor Angela Merkel and  former UK Prime Minister and current Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair who described the act as "disrespectful and wrong."

Even actor-turned-humanitarian Angelina Jolie weighed in, saying, "I have hardly the words that somebody would do that to somebody's religious book."

New Unique Weight Loss Method

Discover A New Revolutionary Method That Puts Your Weight Loss On Autopilot Quickly And Permanently Without Using Draining Diets Or Difficult Workout Programs

- With AAP