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Jones: `We plan to continue¿ Koran burning
Updated: Wednesday, 08 Sep 2010, 2:08 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 07 Sep 2010, 11:33 AM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The pastor of a Gainesville church is rebuffing warnings by the U.S. military's top official in Afghanistan to cancel a scheduled Sept. 11 burning of the Muslim holy book.
Gen. David Petraeus said Tuesday the Koran burning could endanger U.S. troops and the safety of Americans worldwide. He says images of the Koran burning would be used by Islamic extremists to inflame and incite violence.
Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center, said Tuesday that despite the General’s comment his church’s intentions have not been swayed.
’We plan to continue,’ Jones said. ’We understand the generals concerns, we are taking those into consideration.’
However the pastor added that he and his church still feel strongly about their actions.
’We feel it’s maybe the right time for America to stand up,’ he said. ’How long are we going to bow down? How long are we going to be controlled, by the terrorists, by radical Islam?’
’We feel it’s time for the church to stand up,’ he added.
Jones also said that other churches `across the country’ have indicated they would support his, although he declined to name them.
The church has received not only messages condemning the planned burning, but threats have been made against Pastor Jones and the members of his church. The threats are being taken seriously by law enforcement in Gainesville. But if anything should happen Pastor Jones said he would not feel he or his church was to blame.
’We will not be responsible,’ Jones said. ’We are only reacting to the violence that is already there in that religion.’
See the entire interview below:
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