Quran Burning Still on for 9/11, Minister Says

(CBS/AP)  Updated at 7:08 p.m. ET

The leader of a small Florida church that espouses anti-Islam philosophy said Wednesday afternoon he was determined to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, despite pressure from the White House, religious leaders and others to call it off.

The Rev. Terry Jones said at a press conference that he has received a lot of encouragement for his protest, with supporters mailing copies of the Islamic holy text to his Gainesville church of about 50 followers. The plan is to incinerate the Qurans in a bonfire Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of 9/11.

"As of right now, we are not convinced that backing down is the right thing," said Jones, who took no questions.

Complete Coverage: 9/11 Nine Years Later

There was one small sign the pastor who's never read the Quran or visited a mosque was willing to hear from the other side, CBS News Correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports. Jones spent 30 minutes with a local imam.

"I think the pastor as a Christian will follow in the footsteps of Christ and will do the right thing," Imam Muhammad Musri told CBS News.

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Jones' own daughter has told a Gainesville newspaper that his church is a cult, closed to the outside world and controlled by Jones, who in depositions for a lawsuit said Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism all are "of the devil," Cobiella reports.

Jones said previously he has received more than 100 death threats and has started carrying a .40-caliber pistol since announcing his plan to burn the book Muslims consider the word of God and insist be treated with the utmost respect. The 58-year-old minister proclaimed in July that he would stage "International Burn-a-Quran Day."

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan and several Christian leaders have asked Jones to reconsider his plans to burn the Qurans outside his Gainesville church Saturday. They say his actions will endanger U.S. soldiers and provide a strong recruitment tool for Islamic extremists.

Jones told CBS News Wednesday morning his intentions had not changed.

"As of right now, we feel that this message is that important. We are still determined to do it, yes," he told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith.

Despite admitting to CBS News in an interview Tuesday that his actions would almost certainly offend all the world's Muslims, Jones insisted Wednesday morning that his "warning" was "geared towards radical Islam," followers of which he claimed were trying to gain control and impose Muslim law in the United States.

"We see its influence around the world. We are sending a message to them that we don't want them to do as they appear to be doing in
Europe," Jones told CBS News. "We want them to know if they're in America, they need to obey our law and Constitution and not slowly push their agenda upon us."

Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Kabul, took the rare step of a military leader taking a position on a domestic matter when he warned in an e-mail to The Associated Press that "images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan - and around the world - to inflame public opinion and incite violence."

Petraeus spoke Wednesday with Afghan President Karzai about the matter, according to a military spokesman Col. Erik Gunhus. "They both agreed that burning of a Quran would undermine our effort in Afghanistan, jeopardize the safety of coalition troopers and civilians," Gunhus said, and would "create problems for our Afghan partners ... as it likely would be Afghan police and soldiers who would have to deal with any large demonstrations."

Jones claims Islamic fundamentalism is far more widespread among America's Muslim population than believed or acknowledged by officials. He cited as an example an incident he claims took place Tuesday, in which a Muslim woman came onto his church's property and threatened him.

Jones, whose small church in Gainesville has a regular attendance of less than 100 people, has refused to give in to pressure from the White House.

Attorney General Eric Holder lashed out at the Quran burning plans, reportedly calling them idiotic and dangerous in a private meeting with religious leaders on Tuesday.

Asked by Smith how Jones could reconcile his intended actions with the Bible's call to "love thy enemy," he said, "this approach is not the normal approach, but I believe this approach is at this particular time in history very necessary."

"With this action here, this action here itself is not -- is not supposed to be an act of love. We agree that generally that's what we do. We would reach out to Muslims in other ways," Jones told CBS News. "This particular act is actually an act of warning radical Islam. It's a different type of a thing."



His actions likely would be protected by the First Amendment's right to free speech. The U.S. Supreme Court has made clear that speech deemed offensive to many people, even the majority of people, cannot be suppressed by the government unless it is clearly directed to intimidate someone or amounts to an incitement to violence, legal experts said.

The Vatican denounced the planned Quran burning as "outrageous and grave."

David Axelrod, senior adviser to President Obama told CNN Wednesday morning: "The reverend may have the right to do what he's doing but it's not right. It's not consistent with our values ... I hope that his conscience and his good sense will take hold."

Staffan de Mistura, head of the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan, expressed concern and outrage "in the strongest possible terms," and added, "If such an abhorrent act were to be implemented, it would only contribute to fueling the arguments of those who are indeed against peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan."

Local religious leaders in this progressive Florida city of 125,000 anchored by the sprawling University of Florida campus also criticized the lanky preacher with the bushy white mustache. At least two dozen Christian churches, Jewish temples and Muslim organizations in the city have mobilized to plan inclusive events - some will read from the Quran at their own weekend services. A student group is organizing a protest across the street from the church Saturday.

Gainesville's new mayor, Craig Lowe, who during his campaign became the target of a Jones-led protest because he is openly gay, has declared Sept. 11 Interfaith Solidarity Day in the city.

The fire department has denied Jones a required burn permit, but he said lawyers have told him he has the right to burn the Qurans, with or without the city's permission.

In Afghanistan, Jones' planned burning continued to provoke outrage.

"It is the duty of Muslims to react," said Mohammad Mukhtar, a cleric and candidate for the Afghan parliament in the Sept. 18 election. "When their holy book Quran gets burned in public, then there is nothing left. If this happens, I think the first and most important reaction will be that wherever Americans are seen, they will be killed. No matter where they will be in the world they will be killed."

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Kabul resident, Rajab Ali said, "If this (burning of the Quran) happens there will be chaos in Afghanistan and being a Muslim, if we don't defend the Quran then what else we can do?"

The Quran, according to Jones, is "evil" because it espouses something other than biblical truth and incites radical, violent behavior among Muslims.

Muslims consider the Quran along with any printed material containing its verses or the name of Allah or the Prophet Muhammad to be sacred. Any intentional damage or show of disrespect Quran is deeply offensive.

Jones' Dove Outreach Center is independent of any denomination. It follows the Pentecostal tradition, which teaches that the Holy Spirit can manifest itself in the modern day. Pentecostals often view themselves as engaged in spiritual warfare against satanic forces.

[tankmansquare]

I'm not sure what to think about this. First off, I'm not so sure this could be called "News," not that much passes for news these days anyway. There are a lot of people who exhibit psychotic behavior, some with multiple or split personalities. The book "The God Part Of The Brain," might better help explain this type of behavior. What I found astounding is the ego that is necessary to pull this off! Some might call it a Napoleonic Complex, or Messiah Complex. Several famous people in history who have been a part of the Cult of Personality worship such as Adolph Hitler, Elvis Presley, Joseph Stalin, etc., has shown that those that do the worshiping get locked into the circle with the same psychosis that the person they are worshiping has.

As I watch this man speak, I realize how mentally ill the society has become. This type of program that actually allows these mentally ill people to have air time; helps perpetuate this illogical, irrational, type of thinking (if in fact you want to call it actually thinking, as it appears to be more like mental masturbation). So what is his point? Is he the new Messiah? Is he going to save the world? Is he the enlightenment we have all been seeking? I DOUBT IT! What is sad is that many fellow mentally ill people who watch this stuff will believe it. Some may be jumping off tall buildings because they believe they can fly!

If you look at the historical record (including pre-history), you will see that the universe does not operate as he believes. Over eons of time, various species on this planet has come and gone, with perhaps the dinosaurs being the most dominant for the longest period. They lived in a world of life feeding on life, with the T-Rex feeding on herbivores. Their sole purpose over millennia was to eat, sh*t, and make baby dinosaurs. If there was a deity at this time, he, she, or it, certainly must have enjoyed the show to have watched it for such a long time. So for this delusional creature to think that there is some profound explanation for our existence, and that we have the potential to become "Gods," when in fact there is no proof that God actually exists, is to play mind games that amount to nothing.

The cosmos is a very violent place, with galaxies colliding with each other, planets burned to a crisp in a super nova, so to think that a deity is somehow "loving," or "benevolent" and cares about what happens to us down here on Earth, is to miss the real picture. Perhaps life feeding on life cannot be otherwise, and that is just the way it has to be. One can accept that, but to think that somehow there is a deity who really does give a sh*t indicates that we are still mentally masturbating ourselves into the 21st century. The historical record shows that if anything (if there is a deity); it does not care what happens to its "creation." The fact is that many species come and go on this planet, and we are just one of many that will cease to exist sometime in the future. If not by our own hands, then by cataclysms that occur naturally in the universe.

[Brokennews]

You can bet that there are lawyers out there just drooling & hoping the some kind of law enforcement stops the rally & starts cuffing people & throwing them in a paddy wagon!! That would a lawyer's wet dream!!
Payday!!!

[Simifanene]

This reverend is full of hate, that can and will cause the death of millions if he is allowed to burn the Koran bible. It's antagonistic to the point of being equal to yelling fire in a crowded building when there is no fire. It's dangerous and jeopardizes lives across the world. We seen the fanatical Muslum's fearcness in ten years of visious warfare. Their men, women and children are willing to strap and explode bombs upon their bodies to die for faith. To burn their bible in hate of their God will inflame 2 billion Muslums. If burning the Koran stimulates only one percent of the 2 billion non terrorist Muslums to join the terrorist fanatics, another 20,000,000 million crazed warriors will join the Ladin dogs that bit us on 911. Imagine if it burned into the hearts of 5 or 10% of the common Muslims. That would make the terrorist army the biggest army in the world, wouldn?t it? The two Diginet Vietnams we're fighting now will turn into a world wide war the world has never seen. I don't know the future but is it possible? Could the hateful antagonistic burning of the fanatics bible they possessively worship inspire peaceful Muslums to join Ladin's crusade against us? Do you want your son or daughter's on the battle field of 200,000,000 crazed suicide bombers and snipers who's only goal is to fight for God against the other side which is defiling their holy scriptures as his spirit is viley cursed? It's been ten years of war already, with no end in sight. We all know what I've just said, they've let it be known clearly, their willingness to die for their faith. Do we want peace or war? I know we all want terrorism stopped and peace in our souls, as even the enemy does. Should the Federal government stop this church from yelling fire in a crowd of peaceful people? Does our Bill of Rights allow this? What will this stimulate? Public burnings of the Jews, Christians and Buddists church?s and temples? If we stop this burning will it protect the rights of all? Does our enemy have some basic human rights that we must respect even in a time of war. Hitler thought not when he marched on the world. We're not the same are we? What do we really want the outcome of this war to be? Revenge for 911? Death to all of them even if it means death to our children? The stopping of terrorism and peace for all? I feel endangered by this priests forboding actions. Our Bill of Rights is precious but does it allow any acts, actions or words that inspires deadly retaliation. I want peace, even if it means amnesty as long as terrorism is stopped. Wouldn?t the wisest way to world peace would a world confernece that included Alkaida, Isreal, the U.S. and the rest of the world? What do we want more, revenge or peace? Could it be all sides want peace, if terms are met?

[luke987987]

It sounds as if you are saying that muslims are an inferior or at least an immature people. Why would they be expected to react so strongly to a demonstration against their religion. You would not expect patriotic americans to attack someone burning an American flag, would you?

[markenriquez71]

again: 1 toothless pastor and his 47 strong congregation PLANNING to burn some books causes this type of reaction from Muslims as far away as Afghanistan, the Muslim reaction is the TELLING STORY.

[mike 901]

Hell boys, these Muslims have burned Americans. So what are they whining about a hillbilly preacher for.

[alien_view]

Is the Church or Mosque a building or the body of the religious? It is a building not the people. Is the Bible or the Koran a book or the Holy Word? Both are made of paper and ink. REMEMBER, IN BOTH BOOKS: IN THE BEGENNING THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND WAS GOD. Destroying churches, mosques, bibles or koran's does nothing to Gods Word. It will withstand the test of time. In the end all of the physical world you know will be destroyed by fire, but the Word will endure forever. So if you want to burn something burn it, but you have not destroyed anything but paper and look like a fool. Its like buring a cigarette and thinking it is going to stop "Smoking".

[AlanW21126p]

Sorry Slappy, but there's no such thing as "hate speech".

That is simply a PC myth invented to suppress the 1st Amendment.

[AlanW21126p]

Hey Muslims, how about we make a deal?

We'll try to understand why you get so upset because some lone,no-name, heretofore-unknown preacher plans to burn your holy book, if YOU try to understand why we Americans get so upset when you plan to build a mosque/Islamic center near the spot where fellow Muslims of yours murdered 3000 Americans, in the NAME of Islam.

Do we have a deal?

No? Ahhhh, I thought not.

Just as I predicted: with Islam, respect and "sensitivity" is only a one-way street.

So, to you hypocrite Muslims who always want things just YOUR way, I say: Go F yourselves, and I hope it's a really big bonfire down in Florida.

[45bizman]

Right on - but first soak the piece of trash koran in pig blood

[aiskha]

i would like to say that i am a muslim OH and an american muslim
first off for the uneducated people out there many of what you call "americans" changed religions and became muslims even though they lost families in 9/11. second off I lost family members of my own in 9/11if this was a muslim thing then WHY DID I LOSE FAMILY? this was not a muslim thing it was just some ridiculous people who happen to be muslims. they distroyed afghanistan and now Pakistan. it would make sense if they werent after these muslim countries. what kind of muslims are these they are distroying muslim countries as well as muslims. they are building a mosque 2 blocks away those muslims building the mosque lost families and friends and they are getiing blamed for it as well there are criminals in every religion. thats all i have to say.

[slappy-jones]

by AlanW21126p
Slappy, I obviously am not an idiot. In fact, I have studied Middle East relations for over 45 years.

=======

Wherever you studied, I hope you kept the receipt, because they ripped you off.

[lara47]

Rev. Jones is not much of a christian at all. He rather strikes me as just another thug with an agenda