Kabul: The US commander of the Afghan war warned Tuesday that a decision by a section of American evangelicals to burn the Quran on 9/11 would endanger his troops as the Muslim world reacted angrily while the pastor behind the plan said he would go ahead nevertheless.
General David Petraeus said the planned torching of Islam’s holy book by a Florida church would be a propaganda coup for the Taliban in Afghanistan and stoke anti-US sentiment across the Muslim world.
Protests have already gone ahead in the capital Kabul and in Indonesia – the world’s largest Muslim-majority country – while Iran has warned that the burning could unleash an uncontrolled Muslim response.
The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, says it will burn copies of the Quran on this weekend’s ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks in protest at what it calls "the evil of Islam".
"[The plan] could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," said Gen Petraeus, who leads a 150,000-strong US-led Nato force against the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan. "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community," the general said in an emailed statement.
The pastor of the church said he will go ahead with his plans despite Gen Petraeus’ warnings. Terry Jones said he had given "serious" consideration to the concerns, but "we have firmly made up our mind" to go ahead with burning the Holy Quran.
On Monday about 200 men gathered near a mosque in Kabul to protest against the planned torching, shouting "Death to America" and "Long live Islam" for about an hour after their midday prayers, witnesses said.
In January, seven tribesmen were killed by gunfire from Afghan security forces trying to disperse angry crowds during a demonstration sparked by allegations that US troops had torched the Quran.
The planned protest by the 50-member Florida congregation – who have set up a Facebook page in support of the event bearing the motto "Islam Is Of The Devil" – triggered a warning from Iran's foreign ministry. "We advise Western countries to prevent the exploitation of freedom of expression to insult religious sanctities, otherwise the emotions of Muslim nations cannot be controlled," ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters.
Indonesian Protestant Christian Churches Union (PGI) has sent a letter to US President Barack Obama asking him to intervene to prevent the book burning, chairman Andreas Yewangoe told AFP. "The Quran burning will harm world peace. We're deeply concerned as it could create tension here in Indonesia," he said.
