Evangelical Christian Group in Florida Plans to Burn Korans

By Brian Wagner

A small evangelical Christian group in the southeastern U.S. state of Florida on Saturday plans to burn Korans as a protest against violent Islamic extremists. The day marks the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. The church has a right to burn the holy book under the U.S. constitution's First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech. But other religious leaders in Florida fear the event will send the wrong message about religious tolerance.

The firewood is cut at Dove World Outreach Center. And the church's pastor, Reverend Terry Jones, says despite receiving death threats, he and other church members plan to burn 200 Korans on Saturday. "International Burn a Koran Day. This, we only put up because our smaller sign was vandalized many times," he said.

Reverend Jones says he and other members now carry pistols to defend the congregation of some 12 people.

He says the goal of burning Korans is to send a message to al-Qaida, the violent Islamic group that carried out the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington nine years ago.

"That led us to International Burn a Koran Day, to honor those who were murdered at that time [September 11th]. And to put a real clear message out to Islam that we will not tolerate, we do not want them trying to push their agenda on us, in other words Sharia law," he said.

Reverend Jones says Islamic extremism poses a threat to the United States and the world. But he says moderate Muslims should feel free to practice their faith in the country. He says the church's message is not intended for all Muslims.

"We don't feel it's an act of violence. We feel it is a very radical message. Even though they consider it a holy book, it is just a book. And we have made it clear we are not hateful toward Muslims. We are not aiming this at Muslims, we are aiming this at Sharia law," he said.

In Afghanistan, some people feel the event is aimed directly...