An unidentified hate-filled fanatic reportedly ripped pages from a Koran and burnt them as a sign of protest, near the proposed site of a Muslim community centre and mosque near Ground Zero on Saturday saying, ‘America should never be afraid to give their opinion.’
“If they can burn American flags, I can burn the Koran. Americans should never be afraid to give their opinion,” The New York Daily News quoted the unidentified man, as saying.
According to the witnesses, the act was an extreme display of fervour, apparently inspired by the Florida pastor who vowed to torch the holy books earlier in the week.
Americans like Lance Corey, a retired history teacher from the Bronx who opposes Park51, have condemned the act. “Burning Korans is like setting up a recruitment to al-Qaeda, it does nothing for the cause and only brings problems,” Corey said.
Those on both sides of the argument over the Muslim community centre rejected the actions of the Koran burner, who was escorted away but not arrested.
Mosad Almontaser from Brooklyn said it was simply “ugly,” and asked, “Is that supposed to bring people together? What’s the point? I thought that was horrible. It helps no one.”
Earlier, reverend Terry Jones threatened to burn copies of Koran on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. However, after being condemned by the US diplomats, including president Barack Obama, the plan was cancelled. Jones, said on Saturday his church will not burn the Korans.
“We will definitely not burn the Koran, no,” Jones, who was in New York, told NBC television. “Not today, not ever.” The mere threat of torching the Muslim holy book triggered protests around the world.
