Indian American Muslims outraged at the planned Quran burning
Indian Muslim Council-USA (IMC-USA – http://www.imc-usa.org), an advocacy organization dedicated to safeguard India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos is outraged at the planned burning of the holy Quran by a pastor in Florida. Rasheed Ahmed, President, IMC-USA stated that “this is a planned hate crime, which is not protected by the spirit of the First Amendment.”
IMC-USA is encouraged to see the international condemnation of this vile, and bigoted act. The Vatican, President Obama, and Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram are among some of the high profile dignitaries who condemned this act of extreme hate, especially coming from a self professed religious person.
IMC-USA also appreciates Cardinal Oswald Garcia of Mumbai, India’s statement that the Florida congregation’s planned burning of the Holy Scripture is “totally insensitive and disrespectful act toward the holy Quran,”
While acknowledging the statements of these influential leaders, Ahmed also expressed his dismay at the silence of several other religious and political figures, at this proposed act of intense hate, and intolerance.
IMC-USA President, Rasheed Ahmed noted that “Anyone who claims to be a Christian and yet burns the very scripture that honors and respects biblical prophets including Jesus and Mary exhibits both deep seated bigotry and extreme ignorance.”
IMC-USA hopes that the US law enforcement agencies will keep the extremists in check and prevent incidents leading to the violation of basic human rights, and acts of violence against its minorities. IMC-USA further hopes that the US would not allow its extremist elements to imitate the actions of the extremist Hindutva groups like Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who burned a copy of the holy Quran in front of the United Nations office in New Delhi.
Indian Muslim Council-USA is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 10 chapters across the nation. IMC-USA is a Washington, D.C. registered non-profit 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization established in August 2002 with a mission to promote peace, pluralism and social justice through strategic advocacy.
Contact: Rasheed Ahmed
phone/fax: 1-800-839-7270
email: info@imc-usa.org
References:
Florida pastor says he’s ‘rethinking’ canceled Quran burning
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/09/florida.quran.burning/index.html
India Condemns U.S. Pastor’s Plan to Burn the Quran, Urges Media Restraint
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-09/india-condemns-u-s-pastor-s-pla…
India leads calls for action to stop Qur’an burning
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/India+leads+calls+action+stop+burning/3…
Plan to burn Quran in Florida draws international condemnation
http://www.catholic-sf.org/news_select.php?newsid=1&id=57560
World Leaders Denounce Plans for Quran Burning at a US Church
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/World-Leaders-Denounce-Plans-for-Qur…
Bloodbath in Kanpur
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1807/18070340.htm
