University of Florida Muslims fear Koran burning may spark violence

[Turborama]

Source: Miami Herald

GAINESVILLE -- Before she left her Miami home to return to the University of Florida this fall, Wajiha Akhtar's parents gave her some unusual advice: stay indoors as much as possible and, whatever happens, don't go near the Koran burners.

"I was fearful," says Akhtar, 24, a graduate student in epidemiology who says she never had any concerns as a Muslim here until recently. "Will we get singled out?"

Far from Ground Zero, where debate over a proposed Islamic center is still roiling, a Gainesville church has aroused anger and tension among Florida's growing Muslim community and caught the world's attention -- from international headlines to rallies in Indonesia and India -- because of its pistol-toting pastor's plan to ignite a bonfire of Korans on 9/11 to protest what he calls a religion "of the devil."

Fearing violence, some Muslims are leaving town on the Sept. 11 weekend to avoid problems.

Last week in South Florida, 13 mosque leaders issued a call to the region's Muslims for nonviolence in anticipation of high emotions over the desecration of Islam's holy book. At UF, administrators have said they're afraid the protest at the small Dove World Outreach Center will mar the school's image, while international students and prospective foreign applicants have also expressed concern. "Things have escalated," says Ismail ibn Ali, president of the university's Islam on Campus student organization, which serves about 600 Muslim students in this city with 1,500 Muslims, a population that's slowly grown over the last 30 years.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/05/1810373/uf-muslims-fear-koran-burning.html

---

This site I found in the comments is worth checking out...

Muslims Condemn Terrorist Attacks (It's quite a comprehensive list)
http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php



Related article: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4529500">Religious leaders (Hindu Buddhist Jewish Christian Sikh Zoroastrian) decry plans for Quran burning

[bluestateguy]

1. I think that is exactly what this radical Christian cleric wants

nt

[whyverne]

15. Someone should be setting up a bible burning.

Fair and balanced. Ya' think that would spark any violence?

[customerserviceguy]

16. No

I don't seem to remember any during exhibitions of "art" that were derogatory of christianity, such as the statue of the virgin Mary with elephant dung, or "Piss Christ" with a crucifix in a jar of urine.

While I do remember spirited opposition to these 'works', I don't remember anybody being physically assaulted as a result of them.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

20. Concur

Based on past history, if there are problems it will be outside the US and not by xtians.

[Dappleganger]

25. No way.

If you think that more violence will stop the burning, you're dead wrong.
Protesting, yes...not burning more books.

[leftynyc]

30. No - I don't

there was no violence when the Brooklyn Museum had that exhibit of a cross lying in urine or the virgin Mary using cow dung. Try again.

[EFerrari]

2. What the hell country are we living in that these students are afraid.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

3. As disgusting as these koran burners are

it's their right to commit this disgraceful act. We need to ignore them. No media should attend the "event."Remove it from the news wires.
That's what will frustrate them more than anything else. If local or national Muslims were to resort to violence, it would give these christian
terrorists the opportunity to say, "we told you so." If Muslims are harmed in any way the perps should be arrested and prosecuted to the full
extent of the law.

[Turborama]

5. Actually, they will be breaking the law if they go ahead with this extremely provocative act

The fire permit has been denied twice: http://citylimits.blogs.gainesville.com/11721/dove-worlds-fire-permit-denied-again/?tc=ar

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. Note that the law they are breaking has nothing to do with it being provacative

and that flag burnings also violate that same ordinance

[Turborama]

22. Make sure to check that I didn't say that it did.

However, the law is the law and if they burn these Qu'rans they will be breaking it.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. Just being clear about which law was being broken and that other forms of protest break it as well

[flamingdem]

24. good luck with that! You know they'll be there nt

[Turborama]

27. News about it is already being broadcast all over the world by the BBC, CNN International

Al Jazeera English, Sky News and of course Faux news.

[superconnected]

33. +1000

[WCGreen]

4. This is headed toward a bad ending...

All I think about is what would Jesus do?

I certainly don't think he would have sanctioned such actions against individuals who worship god in a different way.

It's ridiculous to me, at least, that any person who calls themselves a christian could any way justify action such as this as being in line with the teachings of the Christ.

What has to happen to stop this kind of shit from happening is for the rest of the people in this country to stand up and say enough is enough.

But I'm not going to hold my breath.

It would take a strong leader to stand up and say yes, it is wrong to burn the holy book of another religion. Yes you have the right to do that, but that doesn't mean it is right.

Again, in this day of fright and avoidance, there is no one who can truly say that enough is enough.

Strong leadership is surely lacking in this country.

anyway, I'll climb back down off my soapbox now...

[boppers]

6. Muslims consider Jesus Christ to be an important prophet.

I'm guessing these morans don't know that.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HEyHEY]

8. .....

"Before she left her Miami home to return to the University of Florida this fall, Wajiha Akhtar's parents gave her some unusual advice: stay indoors as much as possible and, whatever happens, don't go near the Koran burners."
--

Good advice no matter what your ethnicity

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HEyHEY]

10. I think they are just concerned about their daughter's safety

[parkia00]

11. Are you serious?

Are you freaking serious here? That's your few of Muslims? All Muslims are like that? Honor killings, Hijab and the Sharia? Take the binoculars of your eyes and see the world properly for crying out loud! With views like these I'm sure the Koran burnings would be real popular. A real hit for some types of people.

[sabrina 1]

13. You got there just before me. I can't believe some of the stuff

I see on DU sometimes. Anyhow, couldn't agree with you more and glad I wasn't the only one. And it is a wonder, if this kind of thinking is widespread that there aren't more Quran burnings. We are outdoing ourselves on the ignorance scale in this country :eyes:

[sabrina 1]

12. You're not making any sense. Were you trying to say something

or just rambling incoherently? My Muslim girlfriends wear whatever they like and are not at all shy about meeting the opposite sex. One of my relatives dated an Iranian girl for several years until she returned to Iran. They lived together actually! And my sister roomed with an Iranian girl in England when she went to school there and that girl was wild.

Do you always stereotype people, or is it just the ones our government propagandists are currently targeting? Maybe you need to get out more and turn off Fox for a while?

[PatrynXX]

14. Hail Hitler (nuff said) n't :(

[humblebum]

17. This is not condoned by an overwhelming majority of churches, but

I find it amazing how many atheists and others have no problem with Bible desecrations and burnings, and even the Koran when done by atheists and others. All one needs do is to type burn the bible into Youtube to prove the point. Still this Florida church defames the faith it purports to follow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJfijlxQVbQ&NR=1&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIfBMBMZtOs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM5BJGECQH0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTms4hPBA40&feature=related

[Dappleganger]

26. Of course it happens.

But are we at war with atheists right now? What soldiers will be put into harm's way if an atheist decides to burn another bible?

[humblebum]

28. If the news media decided to make an issue of it, then

it would be a very big deal. And if atheists are trying to be more accepted into society, that is definitely not the way to do it. Your reasoning makes little sense.

[Dappleganger]

31. Oh it makes a lot of sense.

Just not to you.

[humblebum]

32. First of all, we are not at war with Islam. And second you

seem to have a double standard. Incidentally atheists have destroyed Korans as well as Bibles.

[Dappleganger]

36. No, I don't.

What atheist churches have publicly burned Korans or Bibles?

See, they aren't a threat because there are no atheist churches. All the church in Gainesville is doing is stirring up hatred and putting our soldiers into even more risk.

BTW, we live about an hour away from this "church" so it's a very hot topic locally.

[humblebum]

38. These people are perceived as Americans burning the Koran

as much as Christians burning the Koran as far as people half way around the world are concerned. they would be protesting atheists doing it too if the news media made an issue of it.

[pipoman]

42. So then you must also believe we should shut up Assange/Wikileaks, no? eom

[superconnected]

34. I have no problem with burning a book if someone really can't stand it

My real problem is over people who would KILL you for burning that book.

The church is hostile as a loon - opposite of what their name/religion seems to mean, but if these crazy Xians stir enough hate that radical Muslims start killing people and the US Muslims don't speak out against those radical Muslims, the Xians will have won.

[Dappleganger]

37. The real problem I am facing here locally

are the ignorant christians (and since I am a christian, I can be critical of them) who equate christianity with the US. They believe that the US was founded upon christian principles and that most people are christian who live here. The only religion they tolerate is christianity and nothing different (or no faith at all). We have devolved to all of this crazy mess because "christian" Americans believe that we are a theocracy and that God's law rules this land, completely forgetting/disregarding/ignoring the fact that our Constitution protects EVERYONE in this country, regardless of faith or creed.

And those of us who are christian and happen to be reasonable, but condemning what that crazy church is doing, we are told by the "christians" that we are aiding the enemy (anyone who is muslim) because we are against the shit-stirring act of burning the Koran.

[superconnected]

40. No kidding - I've met plenty of Fundys now that say that the founding fathers

meant for this to be a Christian nation and all the rest of the people should move out if they don't like it or become Christian. That seems to be a common right wing belief that I think showed up while GW was prez.

[humblebum]

39. Burning books has usually been seen as very infantile and naziesque

until recently. Not good sign any time by anyone.

[alp227]

18. "mosque leaders issued a call to the region's Muslims for nonviolence" Good but...

why do people still insist that mosques=terrorist recruitment centers? My take on this Koran-burning thing: The church should do it and let everyone give dirty looks in response. If there are any fire code violations, the church should be fined or punished accordingly. As of today - September 6, 2010 - about 223 years since the Constitution was adopted - no law exists that bans blasphemous behavior like burning holy books. And the First Amendment prevents any such law from taking place anyway because such a law implies government endorsement of religion.

[superconnected]

35. Very good! They need to call out against that violence!

Glad to hear it.

[BoneDaddy]

21. and I think it is exactly what the radical islamists want

They are two sides to the same coin of madness. Both sides want an excuse. And it will be the innocents who pay the price.

[Turborama]

29. Cheney Inc. want a 9/11 to happen on President Obama's watch so they can say "see".

"He couldn't keep us safe".

This is exactly the sort of event they would love to happen and are probably fanning the flames (pun partially intended) because they know exactly what the repercussions would be if it went ahead.

[BoneDaddy]

41. Right

and until we shed the veils of "patriotism", "religious tribalism", racism, and everything the powers that be uses to keep people divided, the elites of the world will continue to play the shell game.

[struggle4progress]

43. Some recent LTTE in the Gainesville Sun

2 September

... Our once peaceful, family friendly neighborhood has turned into a war zone. The Dove Outreach Center should move on and leave the Gainesville alone! ...

... Dove's decision to burn the Quran is odious at best and a hate crime at worst ...

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100902/OPINION02/100909962/-1/opinion?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-September-2

3 September

... I am embarrassed that this is happening in our beautiful city ...

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100903/OPINION02/100909936/-1/opinion?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-September-3

4 September

... Any cost associated with increased security of any type should be paid by Dove ...

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100904/OPINION02/100909845/-1/opinion?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-Sept-4

5 September

... Dragonfly Graphics, in Gainesville, will be printing some shirts that simply say "Love, Not Dove." Check them out and pick up a free one ...

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100905/OPINION02/100909798/-1/opinion?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-Sept-5

6 September

... The reputation of this wonderful city is being terribly smeared by an upcoming act of hatred and prejudice ...

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100906/OPINION02/100909796/-1/opinion?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-Sept-6

8 September

... The city of Gainesville has not issued a burn permit, so arrest the organizers of the burning ...

... Had this cult been treated with the contemptuous disregard that they deserve, they would have withered and died ...

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100908/OPINION02/100909618/1077/opinion?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-Sept-8

[MissMillie]

44. you know what would be the coolest thing

If everybody just ignored this nutcase, and his 15 minutes of fame were over before they started.

(It's not that I think people shouldn't denounce his behavior. I just wonder it all the noise isn't EXACTLY what this guy is after. It's like feeding a monster.)