Rev. Jones Stands Down; Quran Burning Canceled
Updated at 7:27 p.m. ET
A Florida minister who had created an international furor with his plan to burn the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks canceled the event under intense pressure Thursday, saying he agreed to back off after reaching a deal to move the location of a controversial mosque near New York's ground zero.
(Scroll down to watch the Rev. Terry Jones announce the cancellation of his Quran-burning protest)
The Rev. Terry Jones announced his decision Thursday afternoon, standing outside his small church alongside Imam Muhammad Musri, the president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida. However, Musri and the imam planning the New York mosque disputed Jones' contention that a deal had been cut.
A representitive for the New York imam told CBS News that any agreement with Jones is false.
Special Section: September 11 Remembered
Jones now claims the controversial Islamic center near ground zero had always been a key factor in his decision, CBS New Correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports from Gainesville.
"Our thought was the American people do not, as a whole, want the mosque at the ground zero location," Jones told reporters Thursday.
Jones conveyed the importance of the center's location to Musri, the imam told Cobiella.
"He said, 'I don't care if it's moved today or 10 years from now as long as eventually there's no mosque at ground zero,'" Musri told Cobiella. "As Muslims we should be very sensitive to the feelings of the families of the victims of 9/11."
In Afghanistan, the Taliban has used the Quran-burning controversy to win new recruits, CBS News Correspondent Mandy Clark reports from Kabul. CBS News Thursday obtained Taliban leaflets that urged villagers to join them in seeking revenge. Most villagers are illiterate, so the leaflets would have been left with imams to read out in mosques and spread the word that way.
The Taliban has capitalized on the controversy at the holiest time of the year for Muslims, a time when the mosques will be packed with followers, Clark reports.
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Jones, the pastor of a Florida Pentecostal church of 50 members, has said that he believes the Quran is evil because it espouses something other than biblical truth and incites radical, violent behavior among Muslims.
Jones on Thursday said he prayed about the decision and that if the site of the mosque was moved, it would be a sign from God to call off the Quran burning.
"We are, of course, now against any other group burning Qurans," Jones said during the news conference. We would right now ask no one to burn Qurans. We are absolutely strong on that. It is not the time to do it."
His decision comes after a firestorm of criticism from leaders around the world. President Obama, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan and several Christian leaders had urged Jones to reconsider his plans. They said his actions would endanger U.S. soldiers and provide a strong recruitment tool for Islamic extremists. Jones' protest also drew criticism from religious and political leaders from across the Muslim world.
They warned that the plan would put Americans in danger around the world. In Afghanistan, hundreds of angry Afghans burned an American flag and chanted "Death to the Christians" to protest the planned Quran burning.
Musri thanked Jones and his church members "for making the decision today to defuse the situation and bring to a positive end what has become the world over a spectacle that no one would benefit from except extremists and terrorists" who would use it to recruit future radicals.
Russ Blackburn, Gainesville city manager: "It's very good news for Gainesville and good news for everyone involved."
Jones' neighbors in Gainesville, a city of 125,000 anchored by the sprawling University of Florida campus, also have said they disapprove. 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.
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.
More Quran Burning Coverage
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Jones: Judaism, Other Religions "Of The Devil"
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Angelina Jolie Condemns Planned Quran Burning
CBS/AP A Florida minister who had created an international furor with his plan to burn the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks canceled the event under intense pressure Thursday, saying he agreed to back off after reaching a deal to move the location of a controversial mosque near New York's ground zero.
(Scroll down to watch the Rev. Terry Jones announce the cancellation of his Quran-burning protest)
The Rev. Terry Jones announced his decision Thursday afternoon, standing outside his small church alongside Imam Muhammad Musri, the president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida. However, Musri and the imam planning the New York mosque disputed Jones' contention that a deal had been cut.
A representitive for the New York imam told CBS News that any agreement with Jones is false.
Special Section: September 11 Remembered
Jones now claims the controversial Islamic center near ground zero had always been a key factor in his decision, CBS New Correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports from Gainesville.
"Our thought was the American people do not, as a whole, want the mosque at the ground zero location," Jones told reporters Thursday.
Jones conveyed the importance of the center's location to Musri, the imam told Cobiella.
"He said, 'I don't care if it's moved today or 10 years from now as long as eventually there's no mosque at ground zero,'" Musri told Cobiella. "As Muslims we should be very sensitive to the feelings of the families of the victims of 9/11."
In Afghanistan, the Taliban has used the Quran-burning controversy to win new recruits, CBS News Correspondent Mandy Clark reports from Kabul. CBS News Thursday obtained Taliban leaflets that urged villagers to join them in seeking revenge. Most villagers are illiterate, so the leaflets would have been left with imams to read out in mosques and spread the word that way.
The Taliban has capitalized on the controversy at the holiest time of the year for Muslims, a time when the mosques will be packed with followers, Clark reports.
Quran Burning Coverage
Koran Burning Plans Halted
Pastor Sparks Taliban Leaflets
Quran Burning Canceled by Fla. Pastor
Robert Gates Urged Terry Jones to Call Off Quran Burning
The Perils of Covering the Quran Burning
Taliban Calls on Afghans to Avenge Quran Burning
FBI Agents Visit Fla. Pastor over Quran Burning
Quran Burning Plan Prompts U.S. Travel Warning
Jones, the pastor of a Florida Pentecostal church of 50 members, has said that he believes the Quran is evil because it espouses something other than biblical truth and incites radical, violent behavior among Muslims.
Jones on Thursday said he prayed about the decision and that if the site of the mosque was moved, it would be a sign from God to call off the Quran burning.
"We are, of course, now against any other group burning Qurans," Jones said during the news conference. We would right now ask no one to burn Qurans. We are absolutely strong on that. It is not the time to do it."
His decision comes after a firestorm of criticism from leaders around the world. President Obama, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan and several Christian leaders had urged Jones to reconsider his plans. They said his actions would endanger U.S. soldiers and provide a strong recruitment tool for Islamic extremists. Jones' protest also drew criticism from religious and political leaders from across the Muslim world.
They warned that the plan would put Americans in danger around the world. In Afghanistan, hundreds of angry Afghans burned an American flag and chanted "Death to the Christians" to protest the planned Quran burning.
Musri thanked Jones and his church members "for making the decision today to defuse the situation and bring to a positive end what has become the world over a spectacle that no one would benefit from except extremists and terrorists" who would use it to recruit future radicals.
Russ Blackburn, Gainesville city manager: "It's very good news for Gainesville and good news for everyone involved."
Jones' neighbors in Gainesville, a city of 125,000 anchored by the sprawling University of Florida campus, also have said they disapprove. 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.
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.
More Quran Burning Coverage
Some Call for "Burn the Stars & Stripes Day"
Quran Burning Legal? Protest Possibly Protected
Pakistan: Beck Should Denounce Quran Burning
Quran Burning Protests in Afghanistan
Pastor Will Not Cancel Quran Burning
Jones: Judaism, Other Religions "Of The Devil"
Hillary Clinton: Quran Burning Not American Way
Clinton: Quran Burning Does Not "Represent America"
Bloomberg: Pastor Has Right to Burn Quran
Angelina Jolie Condemns Planned Quran Burning
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I am supposed to be on vacation ,,,ha! Oh well, the guys are coming in off the boat and the stars are coming out. Beautiful ocean of peace...
Take care
and to all a goodnight.
I support the right to both, however.
.
I am totally against the motivation of the burning and I support the motivation of the building.
At the heart of all human action is a motive. Far more important than a right expressed is the motive that claims the right.
The media has blown this up so big and now everyone is upset. When is Allah going to revenge his book? If he is god why do people need to do all of his dirty work like killing and murder? Could it be that he is no god?
If you do something that you really don't have to do -- you could protest in any number of other ways -- and it puts fellow countrymen at risk (especially those serving in the military defending our country)-- you just should not do it. Even though you have every right to do it. your motivation is wrong and that makes the act wrong.
This isn't just a media overreach. We live in the world we live in and news is 24/7 nowadays. Just a reality.
Your last comments, however show another side to your mindset -- and those words do not speak well of your heart. Sad
There is no comparison to Chritian protests, or people claiming to be Christians protesting, and muslim murderers.
Anyone who thinks there is is a very sick individual. The only other people that kill as a form of protst are atheists who have no concern for others. Atheists are the worst mass murderers of all time!
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That is a myth. Stalin was not an Atheist, since he replaced "God" with his face and the State was the priesthood. The State being "god" is no less a religion than Christianity.
The truth is that history is rife with zealots killing free thinkers since they were a threat to the orthodoxy. Don't worry though, since you are a not a free thinker, you are safe, at least in your own flock.
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People outside the USA need to be conditioned with realistic expectations about what a free society is like. If burning books is part of that process, then so be it.
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Of course I defend his 1st Amendment right.
But you're an idealist if you think you're going to teach extremists.
Welcome to the real world.
.
Nothing anyone does is going to placate the islamists. It's the others that need to see this--muslims like me before I became a Christian.
People outside the USA need to be conditioned with realistic expectations about what a free society is like. If burning books is part of that process, then so be it.
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Of course I defend his 1st Amendment right.
But you're an idealist if you think you're going to teach extremists.
Welcome to the real world.
.
One good thing: it further exposed the irrational and violent nature of the islamist caucus...
Reasonable people don't kill other people over a burned book. You might kill someone over a burned book if you religion teaches you to be violent and irrational.
What is exposed may well be religious irrationality and extremism... but it includes Christian extremists such as yourself as well as Islamic extremists.
PS -- YOU don't get to make the rules... extremists do not rule!
One good thing: it further exposed the irrational and violent nature of the islamist caucus...
Reasonable people don't kill other people over a burned book. You might kill someone over a burned book if you religion teaches you to be violent and irrational.
One good thing: it further exposed the irrational and violent nature of the islamist caucus...
Reasonable people don't kill other people over a burned book. You might kill someone over a burned book if you religion teaches you to be violent and irrational.