UK: Muslims gather in protest at pastor's book burning

A copy of the Qu'ran was presented to Professor Bonney, who said: "I utterly condemn the attitude of a small Christian sect. Their attitude is both disgraceful and un-Christian."

Leicester Ahmadiyya Muslim Community [File Photo]

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: Leicester Mercury | UK
By TiL | September 10, 2010


Muslims will gather tonight in peaceful protest over an American pastor's plans to burn copies of the Qu'ran.

The gathering at Central Mosque in Sutherland Street, Leicester, will be for Muslims to observe the sanctity of their holy book.

Pastor Terry Jones announced yesterday he had postponed the burning, planned for today to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, in 2001.

Pastor Jones said the Qu'ran burning was a protest against the proposal to build a mosque near Ground Zero – where the Twin Towers stood.

Dr Habib Akram, Leicester president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, welcomed the postponement but said the pastor was wrong to hold the New York mosque plans to ransom.


He said: "Burning any religious scripture is contrary to the teachings of all the world's major religions.

"These few unfortunate Christians planning this ghastly act need to ask themselves whether they truly belong to Jesus, for he was a prophet of peace.

"We appeal to this church to abandon this provocative act that will offend billions of people of all faiths around the world.

"If anything, 9/11 should be a time for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to peace and not to create new conflicts."

Yesterday, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Leicester received a copy of the Bible from the Rev Professor Richard Bonney, a former professor of history at the University of Leicester and author of a number of books on contemporary Islamic issues.

A copy of the Qu'ran was presented to Professor Bonney, who said: "I utterly condemn the attitude of a small Christian sect. Their attitude is both disgraceful and un-Christian."

Suleman Nagdi, of the Federation of Muslim Organisations, said: "I urge Muslims to show their disapproval through peaceful means."


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