Mumbai archbishop condemns Florida pastor’s Quran burn call
Submitted by admin7 on 2 September 2010 - 12:55pm
By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Dissociating themselves from Pastor Terry Jones of Florida, Archbishop of Mumbai, Cardinal Oswald Gracias led Catholic, Protestant and other religious leaders mainly Muslims, on Wednesday at the Archbishop house, to strongly condemn pastor’s call of burning Quran on the ninth anniversary of 9/11 attack.
“This is highly irresponsible and inconsiderate statements made by Pastor Terry Jones in the USA giving rise to extremism and hatred” claimed Cardinal Oswald. He said it’s very sad and “I stand with my Muslim brethren on this unfortunate incident.”
Oswald Gracias, Catholic archbishop of Mumbai with Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi, Vice President, Congress Minority Cell
He also informed the audience that “They are the fringe elements with only 200 members in America, who declared this fanatic idea and the whole Christian world is against his call.”
Representing the Christians of India, H T Sangliana, Vice Chairman, National Commission for Minorities of India also echoed the same sentiments. He said that he talked to the American Embassy here in India and they also expressed their disapproval of the statement.
He assured Muslims throughout the world that, “this kind of statement is not acceptable and we are with you in the protest.”
Julieo Reibero, Ex-Police Commissioner of Mumbai also attended the press conference and was disappointed with the statement. He suggested, “These types of people are found in every religion and they are after the fame and the best way is to ignore them.”
American government should take strong action against these hate mongers and should take legal actions to stop these extremists. Abraham Mathai, Vice Chairman, Minority Commission of Maharashtra said and also added that “To stop this nonsense, Pastor Terry Jones and his followers must be arrested before 9/11.”
(L-R) Dr Abraham Mathai, Maulana Syed Ather Ali, Naseem Siddiki, Maulana Mustaqim Ahsan Azmi, Bishop Thomas Elvanal, H T Singliana, Bishop Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi, Bishop Parkash Pathole
Terming the malicious campaign as against humanity, Nasim Siddiqui, Chairman of the Minority Commission of Maharashtra said that Books of all the faiths are actually respectable and Freedom of Expression does not mean insulting others and hurting religious sentiments. He advised for peace and communal harmony.
Mustaqeem Ahsan Azmi, President, Jamiat Ulema-I- Hind, Maharashtra and Qari Athar also addressed the press conference. Qari Athar said Christianity and Islam are the two biggest religions of the world and should ignore such kind of publicity stunt. He also demanded, “This sentiment and rage against the Pastor must reach the USA government and also that Indian Muslims and Christians are together.”
Terming the Quran burning issue as global, Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi, a Shia cleric, said “Quran is about Jesus and Mariyam. It’s not the matter of Muslims only but for the whole world because, contrary to the prevailing perception, Quran is not only for the Muslims but for all human beings.”
At the end of the press conference Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai informed the media persons that he has sent the letter denouncing the act to his counterpart in the USA and to the USA government. He also accepted the idea by a senior journalist Sarfraz Arzoo that he must try and talk to Pastor Terry Jones to stop this fanatic idea.
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May Allah Save the World
As Muslims We call The Creator of the Universe as Allah, as we get the same feeling as a Hindu when he calls Bhagwan, different words and different ways of prayer, but Aim and Feeling towards our Lord is same, The Quran is the word of Allah, and I belive Allah knows the best about what ever happens with It and what to do about it, Let there be Peace, Quran is not just printed on paper but it lies in the hearts of 1 Billion Muslims around the world,
Huffaz OR memorizers of Quran
I agree with your comment - Rahat Patel @ 5 September 2010 - 5:14am. under title: May Allah Save the World.
It is absolutely true that QURAN is not just printed on paper. It is SECURELY PRESERVED in Billions of Muslims around the world, and has been "memorized" VERBATIM i.e. "word-by-word" - the only BOOK which "has-been", "can-be", and "will-be" MEMORIZED by it's followers.
Burning printed copies ONLY SHOWS those contemplating OR planning on doing that, are WEAK in their OWN FAITH.
Lastly, burning DOES NOT erase it from the world. It is securely preserved in the "hearts" and "minds" of it's followers WORLDWIDE, and those of "Huffaz" or "Hafiz-Al-Quran".
This reminds me of a famous saying:
If you try to SPIT at SUN, the SPIT "falls back" on spitter.
An Indian
burning of faith of islam
If by any means anyone succeed in burning holy quran,then there is every possibility of trailer of quyamat or quyamat itself on universe .There are lots of extremists in almost all religions .They will not be able to resist themselves from doing something wrong which may lead to burning of bible,demolition of churches ,murder,blood shed,rioting or may be war with atomic energy or chemical weapons .So there is every possibility of trailer of quyamat.So intellectual mass and Government of every country must raise their voice to stop such unholy ,nonsense work .Every religion have great value and faith.All are respectable and worshipable .By declaring publicly to burn quran is to challenge to Almighty Allah .So when Almighty will start to take revenge,then what will be the consequence ,everyone can estimate . So it is better to maintain peace,unity,integrity,brotherhood in the globalised world,than to go for mishap.
Weak faith reaction
Those who have WEAK FAITH in their OWN RELIGION, practice in HATRED towards other RELIGION FOLLOWERS.
Florida Pastor's proposed action is a DIRECT RESULT of WEAK FAITH.
Needless to mention about scores of other ACTIONS, where ATTACKS against followers of OTHER FAITH have been instigated.
I don't need to mention details, as I know TCN readership is wise, and can recall / rewind those instances - within India, and beyond our borders.
An Indian
Qura'n Burning
Indian Muslims are ever enthusiat to come on the streets when anything happens anywhere in the world to Islam, qur'an or Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Remeber the procession taken out for Salman Rushdi's Satanic Verses and demolition of Babri mosque? There is one organisation in Mumbai who till recently used to block Bhedndi Bazar main road to offer azzan and namaaz blocking the traffic. By doing this I don't understand what they are achieving?
This Qur'an burning is annonced by a pastor who is suffering from Hate Islam. Qur'an is Allah's book of revealations and have faith in him. He will take care of. The incident has been anounced to take place on Sept. 11. Please don't come roads and streets and create any scenes.
Allah may give better sense to pastor Terry Jones. Aamin.
Firoz Khan,
Canada.
Pastor Terry Jones is terrified with Islamophobia
The florida church Pastor Terry jones wants to burn the Quran on 11th September.This pastor Terry is terrified with Islamophobia and he should be arrested and throw in to jail.What he wants to do is against the teachings and morals of Christianity.No religion teaches to let down other religion and religious books.Though, Christians have attacked on Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, Muslims have never burnt The holy Bible.Beacuse Islam teaches to respect other religions and their books and cultures.This campaign must be stopped.This pastor wants cheap publicity.
Assalam, AL-QURAN can be
Assalam, AL-QURAN can be burned as in the form of hard copy where our 7year old MUSLIM boy can say the WHOLE QURAN (ALLAHU AKBAR)where they can burn from our HEART?
MENTAL people LL surely have a lesson from ALLAh as the danish man got (Insult our MUHAMED in cartoon) Burned by ALLAH without any evidence
Quran is Allah's word-He will settle those who try to insult it!
Muslims need not worry themselves over this hatred stunt!
Like grandfather of Prophet Muhammed saws said when Abraha had come to conquer and destroy the Kaaba --- "It is the House of Allah -- and He is mighty enough to guard it!"
Rather Muslims and Humanity at large themselves need to ponder over the Quran, understand Allah's message and put the instructions into practice, with more fervour than earlier.
This would be a befitting reply to these poor ignorant people blinded by hatred and devilish rage , and a real example of the peace and patience prescribed in the Quran in actual life.
We never had any protest againt christianity in Arab World
Where US is heading to? Is it being taken over by fundamentalist?
we never had any protest against chiristians and Bible buring in whole Arab. Inspite of being millions killed in war.
It clearly show, which society is intolrent?
LODGE THE QURAN BURNERS IN A MENTAL ASYLUM
THOSE AMERICANS WHO HAVE CALLED UPON THEIR COMPATRIOTS TO BURN THE HOLY QURAN ON 9/11, IMAGINE THAT QURAN WILL BE DESTROYED BY THEIR ACTION. CAN THERE BE ANYTHING MORE IDIOTIC THAN THIS? THESE RASCALS MUST BE LODGED IMMEDIATELY IN THE NEAREST MENTAL ASYLUM.
S.M.PASHA
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