Source: Gulf News
A highly respected Islamic center should take the responsibility to issue a cool and rational statement after the next wilful or even accidental burning of the Quran
I am not sure when the first incident of burning or desecrating the Quran occurred. I am even less sure when the last time will be. But there seems to be no shortage of people in the world who seem intent on doing so! Why is that? And what should Muslims do about it?
In Denmark, in 2005, there was a series of escalating events, which started with the publication of the now infamous twelve cartoons, mocking the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). That led to a call to boycott Danish goods, and further to the burning of the Danish flag, which in turn incited some Danes to threaten to burn the Quran.
However, there were many Danes who came to the defence of Muslims in Denmark, who make up only three per cent of the five million Danes, by staging large demonstrations of up to two thousand people. Some imams took the initiative to organise a peaceful march to bridge the gap between the two groups.
In 2005, at Guantanamo Bay detention centre, as published by Newsweek magazine, allegations that United States personnel had deliberately damaged a copy of the Quran by flushing it down the toilet, in order to torment their Muslim captives, were confirmed by government sources.
Categories: Interfaith tolerance, Islam, Islam: A Religion of Peace, ISLAMOPHOBIA, World