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Qur'an burning cancelled, Ground Zero mosque will be moved
The Vancouver Sun ^ | September 9, 2010 | Glenn Johnson
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BREAKING NEWS: A Florida pastor says he has cancelled his Quran-burning event slated for Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, after an agreement to move the site of the planned Islamic centre near Ground Zero.
Interpol issued a global alert Thursday if the proposed Qur'an burning by a pastor in the U.S. goes ahead, there is a strong likelihood that violent attacks on innocent people would follow.
Rehman Malik, Pakistan's minister of the interior, personally contacted Interpol Sec. Gen. Ronald Noble to ask the world police body's assistance in warning law enforcement of the increased terrorist threat if plans reported by the media to burn the holy book were carried out on Saturday's anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
"Given that we have been made aware of a significant threat to public safety an assessment which we share it is our duty to ensure that we pass this information on to law enforcement agencies around the globe so that they can take appropriate measures," said Noble.
"Although there are currently no specific details as to what forms of terror attacks would follow, what is clear is if the Qur'an burning goes ahead as planned, there will be tragic consequences, ones which may well claim the lives of many innocent people," added Noble.
In addition to circulating any related information, staff at Interpol's 24-hour Command and Co-ordination Centre will be placed on alert and be asked to treat with urgency any information related to potential criminal conduct linked to the burning of the Qur'an.
There is a possibility the Florida pastor at the centre of a global firestorm over plans to burn Qur'ans said Thursday he would likely call off the event if asked to by the Obama administration.
Terry Jones, head of the Dove World Outreach Center, told USA Today he had not been contacted by the White House, Pentagon or State Department about Saturday's planned ceremony on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"That would cause us definitely to think it over. That's what we're doing now. I don't think a call from them is something we would ignore," Jones told the newspaper.
U.S. President Barack Obama has also warned the burning ceremony would be a "recruitment bonanza" for al-Qaida, which carried out the 2001 attacks on the United States in which almost 3,000 people died.
"You know, you could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan," Obama told ABC-TV in an interview.
"This could increase the recruitment of individuals who'd be willing to blow themselves up in American cities, or European cities," he said.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper weighed in on the debate Wednesday, unusually citing his own religious views.
"I unequivocally condemn it," the prime minister said. "I don't speak very often about my own religion, but let me be very clear: my God and my Christ is a tolerant God, and that's what we want to see in this world," Harper said.
