Motives behind the Burning of Holy Qur’an in Florida in US.

by Dr Rifai Naleemi London

(September 10, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is reported that Pastor Terry Jones has decided to burn the Holy Quran to commemorate the nine anniversaries of the September 11 attacks in US. He wants to stage “International Burn a Koran Day” with support of less than 50 supporters in Florida. It is reported that he will go ahead with this event though international political and religious leaders vehemently condemned this event. Almost all political leaders of western nations have spoken out against this event, yet no legal action has been taken by US or UN to stop this blasphemous act of this evangelical priest. Pastor Terry Jones is adamant that he will go ahead with the event of burning of the Holy Quran against all outcries of people in the world: This event -if takes place- will once again re-initiate the debate of notion of personal freedom in the western societies. Why US Government or US judiciary can not stop this event? Why US police do not have any authority to stop it by farce and compulsion? In western countries people have excessive personal freedom at the expense of other peoples’ religious sentiments. So called first Amendment right to free speech gives this priest constitutional right to do this and therefore, accordingly he is protected by this first Amendment Right. Now is high time for US legal experts and policy makers to review this Fist Amendment Right in the context of this new event taking into account modern development in our modern world. Unlike in the past humanity lives in a Global village and European notions of human Rights and personal freedoms should be reviewed in relation to religious freedom of other people. Legal Experts in US say that stopping of this priest from burning the Quran would be difficult task and only the Fire Department could do this for violating its rules: This preacher has been denied a “Burn Permit” to do this yet he could go ahead without it but he will be fined for his action. That is the maximum penalty and punishment he could get. Today, we live in a self contradictory world in that some one’s personal freedoms infringe others religious freedom and religious sentiments. This is the world we live today with all human rights commissions and lobbies that protect some peoples’ rights at the expenses of others.

Let us consider consequences of his action if he goes ahead with his burning. First and foremost, the Quran is the most sacred book for Muslims. . It is the only divine revelation that has been preserved and protected words to words on earth. While all other revealed texts have been altered by human influence it is the Holy Quran that remains in its pure format. It is a divine guarantee that No one can touch it with harm or No one can obliterate its messages. This event will hurt sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world. Muslims all over the world have already begun to protest against this disgraceful act. We have seen many demonstrations in many cities in Muslim countries and we shall see many more in coming days. It is true that most of the people in the west are not anti-Islam or anti-Muslims in general. It can be said that at least 90% of people in the west are against such event. May be only less than 5% of people support such outrageous confrontation? US secretary of State describes this event as an “outrageous” act and she has demanded this pastor to cancel this event. She observes that “it is regrettable that a pastor in Florida with a church of no more than 50 people can make this outrageous and distressful, disgraceful plan and get the worlds attention, but that’s the world we live in right now. It doesn’t in any way represent America, or Americans or American Government or American religious or political leadership” she wanted the court to stop this. She may be honest in her good intention but Muslims people will not accept such explanation until political leaders do something to stop such outrageous events. It is true that entire American nation is not responsible for the dirty work of a few and yet Muslim public would not see this event from that angle. Muslim public will see it as a clear infringement in their religion and this could only inflame already agitating anger in Muslim world. One cleric and politician in Afghanistan observes that if Quran burning takes place this will put Americans life in danger all over the world. “When the Holy Quran gets burned in Public, then there is nothing left… if this happens, I think the first and most important reaction will be that where Americans are seen, they will be killed. No matter where they will be in the world, they will be killed” American General David Petraeus the top US and NATO has already warned American public that this event could put American forces in Afghanistan in more danger. He says that “images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan and around the world to inflame public opinion and incite violence”. Moreover, Taliban has already warned Americans that “West will pay the price for its action”. US embassies and Aid agencies have already been warned of retaliation of extremists. It is suggested that US flags should be burned in retaliation to this hateful act.

What motivates this evangelical priest to do this disgraceful act? Why does he want to do this and what is ultra motive behind this row? Many conspiracy theories can be cited for this confrontation in recent years in the western countries. In recent years Islam-phobia and hatred for Muslim have been increasing in the western countries: Many mosques have been attacked and many Muslim people have been racially abused by some extremists in the western nations. Moreover, some anti-Muslim elements have been craftily using various methods to incite Muslim feeling in recent years. Salman Rushdie affair, Prophet Muhammad’s cartoon affair in Denmark, Minaret matter in Switzerland, Hihab issue in France and Now Quran Burning row in US all these incident touch Muslim emotion and these incident hurt Muslim feelings and sentiments. Moreover, continuous attacks on innocents in Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased anger of Muslims towards Americans. These continuous incidents and occurrences allude to some western conspiracy theories of certain elements in western countries to undermine Muslims and demoralise them in their adherent to religion.

One reason for this hatred may be that Islam is spreading fast in western nations. Islam is one of the fastest religions in the world and particularly in the western nations; Academics, Priests, professionals and publics come to Islam in a large numbers in recent years and this Islamic influence might have concerned these evangelical groups. Otherwise, why an evangelical priest should involve in this row? Pastor Terry Jones has indeed given his own reasons for his actions: He wants to commemorate 9/11 and revenge Muslims in this way. Moreover, He alleges that Christians have been killed in Yugoslavia by Muslims and He alleges that Christian Churches have been destroyed. He further alleges that Muslims destroyed a Hospital in Yugoslavia with full of Christians: These are some of his unfounded allegations. For these he argues that he wanted to revenge Muslims: These are mere unfounded allegation and there is no substantiated evidence that Muslims have done such atrocities. There is no evidence that Muslims extremists have done 9/11 attacks. It is not yet scientifically proved that Muslims have done this. There are many conspiracy theories about 9/11. Even many suspect it could be inside work. Moreover, every one knows what happened in former Yugoslavia. Every one knows who butchered thousands of innocent Muslims without any reasons. Every one knows who the victims of Yugoslavia war are. Every one still vividly remember genocides of Muslims in Yugoslavia? How could this pastor hide the truth? How could he claim that Christians are tortured in former Yugoslavia while opposite is true. I do not know how these evangelicals try to portray victims as aggressors and aggressors as victims. Is it miscarriage of justice? Muslims are victimised all over the world and yet they are portrayed as aggressors. Why is this crafty move? Why is this double standard? Muslim lands are being invaded in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and other places. Innocent Muslims are being killed every day in American attacks in pretext of proxy war on terror and yet Muslims are being portrayed as aggressors. Why these people want to repeat the past crusade history of Muslim and Christians. Muslims have been victimised since the time of crusades.

There are many Examples of Christian Atrocities for Muslim in recent years and in the past. Consider for instance, what happened to Muslims in Spain. Muslims ruled Spain nearly Seven Hundred years and during that time Muslims protected Christians for many centuries and yet you see what Christians did for Muslims when they conquered Spain. They gave Muslims three options: Either to be converted into Christianity or killed or chased out of Spain. This is the history of Christian treatment of Muslim in the past. They wipe out all Muslims from Spain even though they immensely contributed to the development of Spain. On contrary to this, Muslims treated Christian fairly throughout Muslim History in the Middle East countries and Balkan: It is an undeniable historical fact that ordinary Christians preferred Muslim Legal courts to solve their land disputes and domestic problems in Balkan and mere existence of pocket of Christian populations in Muslim countries such as Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and other Muslim land tells how Muslim treated Christian brothers in Muslim History. In return what Muslims get from their Christian brothers is something abhorring? I can not understand why these people want to repeat the past history. Events taking place around the world are not promising well for Muslim and Christian relationship. It is true that western world is dominated by atheists and secularists; most of Westerners do not care about their religions. Church going people are down in western nations. Many churches have been closed down in Western nations and indeed many churches have been bought by other religious groups. Social disintegration is widely increasing in the western nations. Crime, alcoholism and anti-social behaviours are some of major concerns of these societies. Rather than creating tensions between Muslims it would be better for these evangelicals to preach their religions to those atheists and secularists: More than 2/3 of students in these countries do not have faith in God and they do have any religious affiliation. It would be better for these people to work on these people rather than interfering in Muslim faith. Co-existence and social cohesion can made if only different religious groups work together in this multicultural world. How could American Society maintain such social cohesion if its Religious leaders burn sacred texts of other religions in public and how could political leaders stay idly in front of this events without taking any viable actions against it.

It is reported that after 9/11 many people reverted to Islam in Western countries. 9/11 incident increased the awareness about Islam in the west. The demand for the Holy Quran increased in the western countries after 9/11and thousands of copies of the Quran were sold in the western countries: This created curiosity in the minds and hearts of people. People in the western countries are very much receptive for any ideas. They are opened minded. You could discuss any idea with them in these countries; unlike in third world countries people in the western countries are educated and highly literate. You can bully them and you have to win the argument with them. They do not follow any one blindly. This pastor may have thought to harm Islam and Muslims by burning the Qur’an but he did not realise that it could create more curiosity in people’s minds and they may read more about the Quran to know what is in it. Believe me that many people will start to read the Quran and many people will become Muslims.

If this event of burning the Quran goes ahead it could create more retaliation in Muslims: Some extremist Muslim may burn the Holy Bible in return and they may attack places of worships: This could lead to unnecessary unrest in Christian minorities in Muslim countries: This could lead to vicious circles of violence between these communities. It is true that Christianity got many denominations and not all of them support such event yet uneducated Muslim public would not know that difference and all Christian denominations will get blamed for this. It would be better for western politicians and religious leaders to stop this occurrence willingly or unwillingly in a greater interest of two communities. Mere verbal condemnation is not enough in this case: It is not a simple issue. This is very sensitive issue for religious Muslims: They love the Holy Quran more than any books in the world. Western political and religious leaders should stop this by all means. Otherwise, this could lead to many unnecessary encounters with Muslim world. Moreover, it could deteriorate already volatile western relationship with Muslim nations. Religions should be the sources of peace and tranquillity not the sources of confrontations and conflict.