Pastor Terry Jones Plans To Hold Trial Of Islam Prophet Mohammed

Not content with burning the Islamic holy book the Quran, Florida pastor Terry Jones plans to hold a trial of the Prophet Mohammed for "crimes against humanity."

The desecration of the Quran last weekend sparked huge protests in Afghanistan that left dozens dead, including two UN workers who were beheaded.

Jones insists his message is not intended to cause any violence or gain exposure for his small Gainesville church: "We are actually not doing it because we desire to be killed, we are not doing it because we desire publicity. We really believe our message is that important, that the radical element of Islam is a danger to our society."

The local Muslim community in Orlando is both outraged by his actions and fearful of possible repercussions:

[Imam Tariq Rasheed, director of the Islamic Center of Orlando,] said there was as much despair in the Muslim community for the loss of life in Afghanistan as there was outrage at Jones' provocation, which was largely ignored by the mainstream media. Jones, however, was able to circumvent efforts to dismiss his actions by filming the event and posting a YouTube video that traveled around the world.

Jones' actions have been condemned by President Obama and Afghan President Karzai, along with groups across the political spectrum. He arrived in Santa Ana, California today to appear on Truth TV, an Arabic language Christian network.

Comments

[Badwater]

07:59 PM on 04/19/2011

Why are the Republics so silent on this? Does Jones really speak for them?

[Duke Smith]

06:46 PM on 04/16/2011

this man does not know who Christ is nor what he taught. what is that greatet commandment of all. Love.

[Duke Smith]

06:41 PM on 04/16/2011

WHY IS THIS NON-CHRISTIAN LEADER NOT DEAD YET????????

[Penny K Berg]

01:59 PM on 04/10/2011

Mindblowing how this "religious leader" (for G-d knows who) thinks his actions will not cause violence here and abroad. He's obviously a "hater" and has no clue as to his inciting people to hate and act out as such. He obviously doesn't realize that religious people of any faith can not be boxed into a generaliztion of those people. Does he think that all Christians are perfect w/out hateful characteristics. After what he proposes to do, too many people will become "terrorists" here in America w/ the effect of worldwide "terrorists" acting out their thoughts!

[Ioan Lightoller]

06:19 AM on 05/02/2011

Agree with much you are saying, but I suspect that he probably knows there will be violence and he just doesn't care. Most of these types don't care--they just don't--about the results of their actions. Beyond the fact that he is not a federal prosecutor and thus has no legal standing to do this, Bin Laden has already been punished for his action. This is nothing more than cheap, hateful fundie grandstanding.

[Calcan]

09:52 AM on 04/10/2011

To all those aghast at the moral culpability of Mr. Jones and to those of you suggesting legal culpability--I trust that you are also in agreement that Imam Raul and the financial backers and supporters of the Victory mosque, ahem, Cordoba House, ahem Park 51 recreational cum "outreach" centre share the same legal and moral culpability. They were warned that the WTC site was hallowed ground for an overwhelming number of Americans, that many Americans saw Islam as directly connected to and responsible for the most horrific attach against U.S. civilians on domestic soil and yet they continued to defiantly proceed with plans to build the mosque in the U.S. (at least Jones burned his book thousands of miles away from the action). They chose to desecrate such hallowed ground despite full knowledge of the possibility of their actions. I know that consequences to date have only been limited to minor vandalism of a few mosques and the killing of Sikhs who were apparently mistaken for being Muslim, but give it time and a slow news day at Fox. Surely we can be even more aghast at the Park 51 group's "wilful slap in the face" as posted by another. To quote: "Are they TRYING to be martyrs?".

Wait, what? Circumscribing Freedom of religion and expression by prohibiting acts that some others find rage-inducingly offensive would gut the essence of the freedoms? You don't say!

[Acesys]

08:42 PM on 04/10/2011

Wrong, it's actually the First Amendment that is hallowed ground for Americans.

[Mark Webber]

07:12 AM on 04/09/2011

Islam exposed and naked to the eyes of the world. Good work pastor, although I don't believe in any god.

[Rthacker]

05:59 AM on 04/08/2011

Media!!!! Stop giving this man coverage!

[limulu]

05:50 AM on 04/08/2011

of course the pastor has a right to express his believes and to hold mock trails that is part of our freedoms here in the united states. i would just ask him to look at the situation and realize what has and will result from his actions. his actions resulted in the deaths of maybe 20 people. okay the pastor did not kill them and did not ask for them to be killed but he should have known how the Muslims in Afghanistan would react. we are at war in Afghanistan and we do not need to be exacerbating the situation. his message is that he does like Islam which is his right but please do not place additional stress on the people fighting in Afghanistan. his trails serve no purpose but garnering publicity for him. if he does not like Islam then just stand up an say so cut out the posturing and theatrics.

[doodie pants]

04:10 AM on 04/10/2011

Are we never allowed to question this religion then?.......This is oppression.

[Stanislav Sharovskiy]

05:33 PM on 04/29/2011

//okay the pastor did not kill them and did not ask for them to be killed//

End of story. The rest of your comment, logically, should be dedicated to berating and criticizing Muslims who kill in the name of their religion.

[brainsurgery1]

02:42 AM on 04/08/2011

Where's the outrage at the senseless murders and horrifying beheadings?
Who caused these killings - not Jones - the irate lethal followers of Allah are responsible- those who committed these acts that are criminalized throughout the civilized world. The truth is a complete defense to defamation!

[gregory57]

02:04 PM on 04/08/2011

We are horrified at the way some Afghani Muslims have reacted to Jones willful slap in their faces.
Thats what this is all about "brain surgeon". Don't you even understand that?

[Nutcase]

01:58 AM on 04/08/2011

The Bible says God is love. Couldn't someone give this yo-yo one?

[SKODSY]

01:56 AM on 04/08/2011

FREEDOM OF SPEACH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION, IS PART OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND IS PROTECTED FROM DISCRIMINATION AND DEFAMATION OF OTHER PEOPLE BELIEFS AND RELIGIONS.

THEREFORE THIS PASTUR CAN BE PROSECUTED FOR THE INDUCEMENT TO ENTICE A RIOT AS WELL AS CIVIL DAMAGES TO THE VICTIMS FROM HIS INDUCED ACTIONS.

IT COULD BE THAT MR JONES WILL SOON HAVE TO FILE BANKRUPTCY.

MAY GOD BLESS ALL..

MY MESSAGE TO MR JONES, QUITE WHILE YOU CAN AND OFFER A GENERAL APOLOGY, OR CHECK INTO A MENTAL INSTITUTION FOR THE MORALY INSANE!!!

New Living Translation (©2007) MATHEW 17:20
"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."

[eclipse535]

01:19 AM on 04/08/2011

The Bible and the Koran - fairytales that aren't funny.

[kocean1]

10:56 PM on 04/07/2011

What is wrong with this man ?

[Whistlejackett]

10:19 PM on 04/07/2011

Sesame Street comes to Pakistan | World news | The Guardian: http://bit.ly/hItOt3

The US is spending $20 million to have Sesame Street in Pakistan. Maybe the good Reverend should reassess his hatred. Cartoons and killing don't go together.

[gregory57]

06:25 PM on 04/07/2011

Jones willfully desecrated an object held sacred by Afghan, and other, Muslims.
The resultant violence was predictable.
Jones was pre-warned that his planned desecration would likely result in violence.
Jones chose to desecrate the Q'ran in a public forum despite full knowledge of the possible result of his actions.
If Jones act is Constitutionally protected, such protection does not excuse Jones from intentionally inciting violence.
Jones is Culpable. The Bill of Rights does not suspend the laws of Cause and Effect.

Is Jones hoping to become a martyr? How sad.

[brainsurgery1]

02:52 AM on 04/08/2011

Jones is not the cause - he is the product of a civilized society that is fed up with the deference paid by those of you to the openly immoral and uncivilized "laws"carried out by the Islamic henchmen under the cloak of "religion.". We are granted by God the free will to choose between right and wrong and we have through our highly developed civilization learned to make rational value judgments. There is nothing about what the raging afghans have done that is excused by a mere man in Florida burning a book.