Reply #31: Eight killed in Afghan demonstration after U.S. preacher burns Koran

[Bragi]

Source: AP (via Globe and Mail)

Eight foreigners were killed Friday after demonstrators protesting a reported burning of the Muslim holy book stormed a U.N. office in northern Afghanistan, opening fire on guards and setting fires inside the compound, a top Afghan police official said...

The protesters were condemning a reported burning of the Quran at the Rev. Terry Jones' small church, Dove Outreach Center, in Gainesville, Florida.

Last week, Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued a statement calling the burning a “crime against a religion.” He denounced it as a “disrespectful and abhorrent act” and called on the U.S. and the United Nations to bring to justice those who burned the holy book and issue a response to Muslims around the world.



Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/eight-killed-in-afghan-demonstration-after-us-preacher-burns-koran/article1966938/

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My view is that what is noteworthy here is that, while the U.S media has (unwisely) self-censored itself and not reported on Jones' Quran-burning, people elsewhere are aware him, and they fully intend to use this as a political opportunity.

As for any attempt "to bring to justice those who burned the holy book" as per Karzai's demand, no action can or will be taken against Jones since burning anyone's holy book is well within the First Amendment Rights of Americans to the exercise of free speech.

I predict that reaction to Jones' widely-ignored Quran-burning last month will evolve in coming weeks/months into a crisis not unlike what happened with the Danish cartoons. Hope not, but that's my prediction.