Vatican denounces Quran burning plans

Vatican has labeled the Florida-based church’s decision about torching the Islamic holy book to mark the 9/11 terrorist attacks as an ‘outrageous’ decision.

“Each religion, with its respective sacred books, places of worship and symbols, has the right to respect and protection,” the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue said in a statement on Wednesday, acknowledging that the news has caused “great concern” with the council, AFP reported.

The council said that such moves could not make terrorists abandon the “deplorable acts of violence,” such as the one committed on September 11, 2001 on US soil.

“Each religious leader and believer is also called to renew the firm condemnation of all forms of violence, in particular those committed in the name of religion,” it added.

The US officials have, similarly, condemned the plan to burn the Quran, saying it could provoke uproar around the Muslim world and put at risk the lives of the US soldiers fighting in overseas wars.

Despite the rhetorical condemnation of the plan by the US officials, however, no legal measure has been sought to block the blasphemous move proposed by the US church.

The plan, which is widely considered as a symbol of racism, has already drawn international condemnation with Muslims launching protest rallies around the globe.

The Dove World Outreach Center, a small church in Gainesville, Florida, has announced plans to burn Quran on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that left more than three thousand people dead.