Bishop likens Koran burning to Nazi treatment of Jews

The Bishop of Chichester has joined the chorus of condemnation around the globe over a Florida-based Christian centre’s plan to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville has confirmed it will go ahead with the bonfire despite appeals from Christian leaders worldwide and a warning from the US’ top military commander in Afghanistan, Gen David Petraeus, that it could endanger the lives of troops.

There have already been angry protests by Muslims in Afghanistan and Indonesia and Open Doors is warning that the action could result in an intensification of persecution against Christians living in Muslim-majority countries.

The Bishop of Chichester, the Rt Rev John Hind, said he was “horrified” to hear of the 50-member church’s plan.

“[It] reminded me of the Nazi burning of Jewish religious texts,” he said.

“Christians in the West especially need to be aware of the effect of their statements and actions on Christians in other parts of the world.”

Inter-faith advisers for the Diocese of Chichester, the Rev John Chitham and Mary-Jane Burkitt, urged Christians to demonstrate love towards their Muslim neighbours.

“The news that an obscure pastor in the USA is going to publicly burn copies of the Koran fills us with dismay,” they said in a statement.

“Jesus message is one of love: to love our neighbour and to love our enemy. Most Muslims are simply our good neighbours.

“We are called by Jesus to love and not to hate, and we hope and pray that all Christians in Sussex will live up to His call.”

Pastor of the church, Dr Terry Jones, said he was taking the warning from Gen Petraeus seriously and that his church was praying over the matter.

In a press conference yesterday, Dr Jones spoke of his church’s intention to go ahead with its ‘International Burn-a-Koran Day’ on Saturday.

“As you can imagine we have come under very much pressure in the direction of cancelling the event. But as of this time we have no intention of cancelling,” he said.

“We have also, which is something the news media has missed, received quite a lot of support.

“We understand General Petraeus’s concern and we are still considering it.

“But as of now we are not convinced that backing down is the right thing to do. So we will continue with our planned event.”

Eddie Lyle, head of Open Doors in the UK, warned that the "hysterical" action was "entirely inflammatory" and could have "dire consequences" for people around the world.

“Not only could it endanger people’s lives, but it goes against the teachings of Jesus, who called us to love our neighbour and live in peace with one another – as far as it’s possible.

"We have worked tirelessly to protect the right of Christians to express their faith peacefully, which could all become undone by the actions of a disproportionate minority.”

Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, said: “History shows that offensive acts such as these are never isolated incidents as they can spread bad sentiment across the rest of the world, harming relations between Christians living in Muslim countries and those of the Islamic faith in the West.

“The 9/11 attacks brought to the fore the right to express religious beliefs. This is something we at the Alliance vehemently defend.”