Florida Pastor Plans Islamic Law Protest In Dearborn
DEARBORN (WWJ) - The Florida pastor who grabbed headlines last year for threatening to burn the Quran on September 11th says he will protest Islamic law outside a mosque in Dearborn.
While Terry Jones was then talked out of it by President Obama and Defense Secretary Gates, he actually led a Quran burning this past Sunday after he set up a mock trial of Islam's Holy Book. The Detroit Free Press reports that Jones says he's not against Muslims, but wants them to "honor, obey and submit to the constitution of the United States." Jones says he's worried about sharia, or Islamic law, coming to this country.
WWJ's Ron Dewey caught up with local Muslims at the Islamic Center of America following their morning call to prayer. Amer Jaffer says Terry Jones isn't paying attention. "He needs to understand this is the greatest country in the world where he gets to express his feelings with his hatred or his love, whatever he wants," says Jaffer, who adds, "If he wants to come across with hatred, more power to him. If he wants to come across with love, he'll be welcomed with open arms."
Others say Jones' fear of Islamic law being introduced in the U.S. is nonsense. "Islamic law is not even introduced in Islamic countries, so why would it be introduced over here. So why should there be fear," says Abe Mackey.
And Mackey wonders if Jones bothered to open the Quran before he put a match to it. "Jesus is mentioned in the holy Quran over 20 times and there's a whole chapter about the virgin Mary in the holy Quran. So if he wants to burn that then it's up to him," says Mackey.
Jones plans to demonstrate outside the Islamic Center of America at Ford Road and Evergreen in Dearborn on April 22nd.
