Cleric warns US against Quran burning

A senior Iranian cleric warns Washington of the potential dire consequences of a US pastor’s plans to burn the Quran, calling for the arrest of preacher Terry Jones.

Jones, who heads the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville Florida, plans to torch the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“The horrendous news of a US church’s plan to burn copies of the Quran, announces to the world the depth of evil, malevolence, and animosity against humane values and the school of prophets as well as the misteachings of the modern [day] Church,” Source of Emulation Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi-Golpayegani said on Wednesday.

“Desecrating this holy book is the desecration of all sanctities and prophets, especially Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the Virgin Mary.”

Ayatollah Safi-Golpayegani condemned the plan, warning that should such an “inhumane incident take place in America, the US government and President [Barack] Obama will be held responsible.”

According to Ayatollah Safi-Golpayegani’s official website, the senior cleric has called for the arrest of Jones and the closure of his church.

Jones’ plan has drawn worldwide condemnation. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has hit out at the Dove World Outreach Center’s plan, stressing that it is “disrespectful and disgraceful.”

The US State Department also called the move “un-American,” while the US Attorney General Eric Holder called the idea “idiotic and dangerous.”

EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton condemned the planned act, while Arab League chief Amr Mussa dubbed Jones a “fanatic”.

The Vatican council has blasted the Florida church’s scheme as “deplorable acts of violence.”

Many Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Indonesia have already held massive demonstrations against the US church’s intent.