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Newsweek sparks global riots with one paragraph on Koran
London Times (UK) ^ | May 14, 2005 | Catherine Philp

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”.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: agitprop; antiamericanism; boycott; boycottnewsweek; bullzogby; cary; islam; korandesecration; liberalelites; mediabias; muslims; newsweek; propaganda; usekoran4tp; wipeandmail2pakis; zogbyism
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To: blueberry12
Shortly after 911, when the country seemed to be united and horrified over the acts of terrorist homicide, I made a mental note when I heard these little voices in the media hit some dissonant chords that just didn't seem right; but were couched in an intellectual atmosphere of musing and introspection.

As time went on, and Bush took action over these atrocities, you could hear this crap evolving and the snivling, little back-biting nay-sayers got braver. I said to myself, "Here comes the Left!". Later still, were clowns like Michael Moore and his ilk, putting forth their theses in the media.

I am still shaking my head in partial disbelief over how this is inserted into "news" while we are at War. I guess I'm one of those 911 people and NOT a 910 person.

Silly me.

61 posted on 05/15/2005 6:57:49 AM PDT by DoctorMichael (The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: Commander Salamander

Islam: the cancer on humanity.

There will never be any semblance of an end to terrorism as long as there is one muslim left alive.


62 posted on 05/15/2005 6:58:11 AM PDT by ArmedNReady
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To: Mo1
Great find Mo....I was looking for that one on Rush's site.
He mentioned something about that on Friday.
63 posted on 05/15/2005 6:59:23 AM PDT by ThreePuttinDude
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To: veronica
I am placing the blame where it belongs, on the rioters, who, by the way, will riot at the drop of a hat.

And thanks to Newsweek .. and their twisting of a story that is not accurate .. it sent them over the edge

64 posted on 05/15/2005 7:00:08 AM PDT by Mo1 (Hey GOP ---- Not one Dime till Republicans grow a Spine !!)
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To: Commander Salamander

How convenient that the flags are always available to be burned! Anyone else wondering where Muslims are getting these flags?
There has to be advance planning as the flags have to be bought or made and neither is a spur of the moment proposition.
Do mosques have a supply to hand out as needed after the imam whips the crowd to a frenzy?


65 posted on 05/15/2005 7:00:59 AM PDT by kalee
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To: ThreePuttinDude; OXENinFLA
Great find Mo....I was looking for that one on Rush's site.

You're welcome

But I can't take the credit

OXENinFLA found the link

66 posted on 05/15/2005 7:01:42 AM PDT by Mo1 (Hey GOP ---- Not one Dime till Republicans grow a Spine !!)
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To: veronica

What law was broken even if it happened?

Dear Ms. Rice,
PUNISHED FOR WHAT?!?!?!?! There was NO crime even if it happened.


67 posted on 05/15/2005 7:04:23 AM PDT by kalee
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To: Commander Salamander; All

Hmmmmm.....so the Koran was "supposedly" defiled and it causes major rioting. But 3,000+ Americans were murdered on 9/11 by Islamic Terrorists, and not a peep from the "supposedly" Moderate Muslims. Glad to see they have their priorities in order. Just more proof that this is anything but a "religion of peace".

In 90%+ of the current world conflicts, terrorism, religious strife, ethnic cleansing etc.; their is one constant....it involves Islamic Muslims.


68 posted on 05/15/2005 7:04:44 AM PDT by all4one
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To: Commander Salamander
The events of the past few years have made it abundantly clear that Islam, as practiced, is a cancer that will eventually need to be cut out of the world body. Islam routinely fosters violence upon all others who do not believe in it. Its diametric opposition to any belief system that is remotely different is a threat of the highest order to the survival of all who encounter it.
69 posted on 05/15/2005 7:04:59 AM PDT by Thumper1960 ("It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed."-V.I.Lenin)
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To: Mo1
And thanks to Newsweek .. and their twisting of a story that is not accurate .. it sent them over the edge...

Oh please. They always have one foot out the door, ready to riot.

70 posted on 05/15/2005 7:06:30 AM PDT by veronica (CP = Jeffords Republicrats...)
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To: veronica

As I stated above

If you want to defend Newsweek ... go for it

I won't ..


71 posted on 05/15/2005 7:07:43 AM PDT by Mo1 (Hey GOP ---- Not one Dime till Republicans grow a Spine !!)
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To: veronica
I hear Liberals denigrate Christians, the Holy Bible and witness the Left attempt to bury Christianity, on a daily basis.

I haven't killed any of them.

sheesh

72 posted on 05/15/2005 7:08:55 AM PDT by Thumper1960 ("It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed."-V.I.Lenin)
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To: Mo1

Someone on an earlier thread likened it to
yelling fire in a crowded theater.


73 posted on 05/15/2005 7:10:36 AM PDT by kalee
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To: Thumper1960

I still want to see us take out the big, black Borg cube sitting in Mecca. Now THAT'LL stir 'em up. Har-dee-har...SSZ


74 posted on 05/15/2005 7:10:57 AM PDT by szweig
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To: Commander Salamander

Maybe there should be a Burn Newsweek demonstration. Or maybe urinate on Newsweek demonstration.


75 posted on 05/15/2005 7:12:56 AM PDT by petitfour
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To: Mo1
Words don't kill, people do. If inaccurate reporting was enough to cause riots, there would be blood in the streets of Manhattan every day. Just read the corrections page of the NY Times. The problem in the end is the intolerant mindset of Islam.

Your POV is like blaming gun manufacturers when murderers shoot people.

76 posted on 05/15/2005 7:12:58 AM PDT by veronica (CP = Jeffords Republicrats...)
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To: veronica
Why do you keep comparing Afghanistan to the USA ???

They are nothing like us and can't even be put in the same category
77 posted on 05/15/2005 7:14:45 AM PDT by Mo1 (Hey GOP ---- Not one Dime till Republicans grow a Spine !!)
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To: Mo1
"At least 10 people have died so far in the protests, which were triggered by a U.S. magazine report that said U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had desecrated the Koran."

Frankly, I can barely contain my outrage at the desecration of a U.S. Military toilet in such a manner.

78 posted on 05/15/2005 7:14:57 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack
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To: Joe 6-pack

LOL...


79 posted on 05/15/2005 7:16:20 AM PDT by veronica (CP = Jeffords Republicrats...)
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To: Joe 6-pack
Frankly, I can barely contain my outrage at the desecration of a U.S. Military toilet in such a manner.

You are not a US National Magazine

Personally .. I think the guy that lives down the street from me is a real jerk .. but I don't go up to his face a tell him so

80 posted on 05/15/2005 7:18:19 AM PDT by Mo1 (Hey GOP ---- Not one Dime till Republicans grow a Spine !!)
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