Posted on 05/15/2005 5:50:12 AM PDT by Commander Salamander
Claim that the Holy book was defiled by US guards at Guantanamo Bay has incensed Muslims AT LEAST nine people were killed yesterday as a wave of anti-American demonstrations swept the Islamic world from the Gaza Strip to the Java Sea, sparked by a single paragraph in a magazine alleging that US military interrogators had desecrated the Koran. As Washington scrambled to calm the outrage, Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, promised an inquiry and punishment for any proven offenders. But at Friday prayers in the Muslim world many preachers demanded vengeance and afterwards thousands took to the streets, burning American flags.
Although the original report in Newsweek was small, it was re-broadcast by television networks such as al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya and in Pakistan it was quoted by Imran Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, at a press conference. He said it would strengthen the impression that America’s War on Terror was against Muslims.
The most violent protests were in Afghanistan, where the death toll in clashes between demonstrators and security forces reached fourteen after a third day of rioting. Three people were killed and twenty-two injured near Faizabad, in Badakhshan province, when a thousand rioters burnt down aid agencies’ offices.
Worshippers in Pakistan poured on to the streets after prayers, chanting “Death to America”, and burning American flags. In Jakarta, hundreds gathered noisily at a mosque. Thousands marched through the streets of a Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza.
The unrest began this week after Newsweek published an allegation that American military interrogators had desecrated the Islamic holy book in an effort to rattle detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The report said that they had placed the Koran on the lavatory inside inmates’ cells and had “in at least one case, flushed a holy book down the toilet” .
The report was condemned by the Pakistani Government, and Khurshid Kasuri, the Foreign Minister, demanded an apology and severe punishment for any soldier found guilty. Hardline Islamic groups said that they would hold protests but before that could happen violent protests erupted in Afghanistan.
Significantly, Saudi Arabia, a key US regional ally which is usually slow in speaking out, became the first Arab state to comment officially yesterday, expressing “deep indignation” and calling for a quick investigation and for the perpetrators to be punished.
The report was denounced initially by the US chargé d’affaires in Kabul and then by the Pentagon and the State Department. As unrest gathered pace, Dr Rice issued an appeal: “I want to speak directly to Muslims in America and throughout the world. Disrespect for the Holy Koran is not now, nor has it ever been, nor will it ever be, tolerated by the United States. Disrespect for the Holy Koran is abhorrent to us all.
“There have been recent allegations about disrespect for the Holy Koran by interrogators at Guantanamo Bay and that has deeply offended many people. Our military authorities are investigating these allegations fully. If they are proven true, we will take appropriate action.
“Guaranteeing religious rights is of great personal importance to the President and to me. During the past few days, we have heard from our Muslim friends around the world about their concerns on this matter. We understand and we share their concerns.
“Sadly, some people have lost their lives in violent demonstrations. I am asking that all our friends around the world reject incitement to violence by those who would mischaracterise our intentions.”
The riots in Afghanistan were the worst displays of anti-US sentiment since the fall of the Taleban in 2002. Four protesters were shot dead on the second day of demonstrations in Jalalabad, a stronghold of the rebel commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyer, and at least three others died in protests the next day. Aid offices were attacked in the capital, Kabul, and more people died yesterday when protests spread to Ghazni and Badakhshan.
Thousands of Muslims gathered in Pakistan’s main cities yesterday after sermons in mosques denouncing the desecration, and effigies of President Bush and of their leader, President Musharraf, were burnt.
Hardliners also led the protest in Gaza, where Hamas organised a march of thousands of Palestinians through the Jabalya refugee camp yesterday. “The Holy Koran was defiled by the dirtiest of hands, by American hands,” a protester shouted as others burnt American and Israeli flags. The Muslim Council of Britain said that the Bush Administration had to “take responsibility for the anti- Muslim climate they have been fostering through their actions; Guantanamo Bay itself is a scandal of the highest order”.
Further Evidence that Islam is the religion of peace. NOT!
It was Newsweek started this crap???
Yep. Don't you think manslaughter charges are appropriate? Or at the minimum, incitement to riot? Alternatively, at the maximum, treason?
We're going to lose another war thanks to our media.
Who gives a crap even if it did happen? Judaism and Christianity are attacked every day in Muslim countries. Lies are told about the Talmud, the Bible - people are arrested for promoting Christianity. Muslims have little respect for other religions, yet they scream bloody murder if someone "desecrates the Koran." Big whoop, even if someone did.
Settle down, guys. Everyone knows that Billy Graham and Pat Robertson rioted and called for a jihad at the image of the "Piss Christ". It's morally equivalent. /Sarcasm.
All of the above
Well they EVER learn?
THIS is the outrage. The pandering, the mollifying, the genuflecting. It's sickening.
There's quite a slaughter going on in Africa right now by the mohammedheads but it rarely makes news - and of course the worthless U.N. is doing nothing except lie, cheat, and steal.
Yes they are. Media types, be it print or broadcast, are all about ego and power.
They're only concern is beating their peers at a story. Right now I'm sure they're gloating over their influence on world events.
This event is over blown, no one even knows if it is true...and we will most likely never know.
This group of people is always looking to be offended, and would protest and riot of the President made a choice over "Less Filling" vs. "Tastes Great".
It seems that the writer, John Barry, and Newsweek knew the charges were unsubstantiated when the article was published. They are guilty of instigatiing riots and murder, and they should be held accountable.
Am I correct in thinking that Newsweek is owned by NBC?
Exactly! You tell me what would happen if a XPian was caught on the street in Saudi Arabia reading from the Holy Bible?
I understand your point .. but lives were put in danager ... Including Miltary lives
Everything we've done the last few years were put at stake because Newsweek is upset President Bush won the election
-Muslims have little respect for other religions, yet they scream bloody murder if someone "desecrates the Koran."-
You got that right. Instead of banging our heads in apology, we should be condemning the merciless killings of Christians in those same countries on a daily basis.
All the muslims need to do is throw a tantrum; they know from experience we're all too ready to pacify. Sickening.
Oops. Silly me.
Ah, diversity!
I am not interested interested in flushing Korans down the toilet. I'd sooner flush Newsweek down the toilet, but American plumbing can't take the load.
Exactly right. I guess now the evil American "perp" who did the dirty deed will be tried and put in jail and made an example.
This group of people is always looking to be offended, and would protest and riot if the President made a choice over "Less Filling" vs. "Tastes Great".
Heh. Least surprising headline of any day is..."Muslims (or Palestinan) rioted because (fill in the blank.)
And I guess they have forgotten the billions America gave to Muslim countries after the tsunami.
Not entirely true. We are also going to lose it because of ridiculous crap like this:
As Washington scrambled to calm the outrage, Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, promised an inquiry and punishment for any proven offenders.
Being in the army, hearing something like this pisses me off to no end. First the pandering to the "Religion of Peace" in the Abu Ghraib "scandal" by ruining the lives of soldiers who were so eeeevil as to put panties on murderous terrorists (the horror!) and now a promise to punish soldiers who allegedly disrespected the Islamic murder guide. Not only do alot of Americans not realize that we are in a war, but now it looks as if the damn government doesn't realize it either.
.But at Friday prayers in the Muslim world many preachers demanded vengeance and afterwards thousands took to the streets, burning American flags.
The hypocracy is incredible. The followers of the religion of peace heard a story about their manual being desecrated, so the followers of the religion of peace are now bloodthirsty and demanding vengeance.
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