Quran burning bid draws global outrage

A US church’s plan to burn copies of Islam’s holy book on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks has ignited worldwide condemnation.

Top US commander in Afghanistan General David Petraeus warned on Monday that the action could put the lives of American soldiers involved in wars overseas at risk.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also 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.”

On Tuesday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs also expressed concern over the plan saying that “any type of activity like that, which puts our troops in harm’s way would be a concern.”

Despite the rhetorical condemnation of the plan by US official for apparent consequences on American soldiers overseas, no legal measure has been sought to block the offensive move, which is widely considered as racist.

The Vatican and NATO have also blasted the Florida church’s scheme.

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

Despite the global outrage, Pastor Terry Jones, the organizer of the event, said he will go ahead with his plan.

He claims that the torching of the Quran “will send a clear message to the radical element of Islam.”

Interestingly, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has defended the Florida pastor’s decision.

While calling the burning of the Muslim holy book “distasteful,” he said that he permitted the act because of his commitment to freedom of speech. “The First Amendment protects everybody,” Bloomberg said on Tuesday. “You can’t say that we’re going to apply the First Amendment to only those cases where we are in agreement.”

Despite claims that America embraces all religions and faiths, anti-Muslim sentiments have been on the rise across the United States.

Arson attacks against mosques are growing; American Muslims receive frequent threats because of their religious identity.