Koran burned after Fla. church "trial"

Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center, presides as judge over a mock trial of the Koran, at the Gainesville, Fla., church, Sunday, March 20, 2011. / Facebook

Terry Jones, the Gainesville, Fla., pastor who ignited rage across the world with his scuttled plans to burn a Koran on September 11, has overseen the burning of a Muslim holy book, after a mock trial found the Koran guilty of crimes against humanity.

The torching of the book was part of an event Jones called International Judge the Koran Day, which was streamed live online and promoted on Facebook.

Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center, himself presided over the trial Sunday as "judge," hearing evidence and testimony against the Koran.

Jones, speaking from a judge's bench, said that like in an American court, if one is found guilty, there are consequences.

"If you are found guilty," he said, "if you are convicted of murder, you don't get to go home. It does not matter if we love you, if your mommy loves you, if your daddy loves you - you do not get to go home, because you have killed someone.

"And because of that you will face punishment. You will go to jail, you will possibly someday be electrocuted, or you will be shot up with poison and you will die," he said. "That is what justice is."

And to anyone watching who may disagree with the verdict, Jones said, "All you have to do is put together your own trial."

The "jury" considered the charges of crimes against humanity; of promoting terrorist acts; of death, rape and torture of people worldwide "whose only crime was not being of the Islamic faith"; and of crimes against women, minorities and Christians, and with promoting prejudice and racism.

The trial featured as prosecutor a Christian convert from Islam. An Imam from Dallas, Texas, served as the book's defense attorney.

After several minutes of deliberation, the jury handed its verdict to Jones: Guilty on all counts.

An online poll had helped decide the punishment following a guilty verdict. (The choices: Burning, shredding, drowning, or firing squad.)

The kerosene-soaked book was placed in a metal tray and ignited with a barbecue lighter by pastor Wayne Sapp.

About 30 people attended the trial and execution. One supporter of Jones, Jadwiga Schatz, told Agence France-Presse that she was concerned about the growth of Islam in Europe.

"These people, for me, are like monsters," she said. "I hate these people."

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, issued a statement condemning the burning, and rejected religious intolerance in any form.

"The deliberate destruction of any holy book is an abhorrent act," Ambassador Cameron Munter said. "The U.S. commitment to freedom of religion and freedom of expression goes back to the founding of our nation and is enshrined in the Constitution."

"This is an isolated act done by a small group of people that is contrary to American traditions," the embassy said.

[ppazsionn]

lets see, crimes comitted by terry claiming justice..burning a religeous symbol = hate crime. arrestable.. as with burning a countries flag.

insiteing a riot. here and abroad..

the resulting deaths and property damage can be tracked back to these individuals and all those who took part in a fake trial.and related crimes of destroying a religeous symbol.

the trial itself is illegal, and all those who took part are also chargeable..
this falls under the same laws as poseing as a police officer. using blue lights on your car, or wearing a uniform or acting as if you had this authority, and it actually effects other people outside of this imaginary game..

So these people are now wanted for crimes against humanity.. I am issueing a civialian arrest warrant.. for pastor terry, and all those who took part, all those who "liked" this on face book.. and all those who encourage such acts of terrorism.

[naksuthin]

This just goes to show that the world would be better off without Christianity, Islam or Judism.
These three religions, which stem from the same roots are the cause of 90 percent of the world's problems.
No matter where you look in the world you are sure to find adherents to these religions killing each other.

[leciat2]

funny i don't remember this guy saying the cross in ****, the virgin mary covered in dung and a painting of jesus having oral sex being an "abhorrent act"...oh wait those didn't "offend" msulims so they are protected under our constitution....it's just "offending" muslims that is no longer freedom of speech under our new sharia compliant constitution

[whereisamerica]

As a Muslim I can say that I feel sorry for most of you. I would like to make a suggestion here. Try to get your information about Islam from a source other than the media. They are on a mission to help destroy Islam. This preacher (may Allah have mercy him) is only looking for attention. You will not see a Muslim that lives by the Quran burning any holy book because we believe in them all, that is when they are in their original text. You see the Bible, Torah, and the Quran are all books sent from Allah (God) to the people. The only thing is that we believe that the Bible and the Torah have been altered by man to suit his needs and conveniences. We as Muslims believe that there in no compulsion in religion. We also believe in all the messengers of Allah (God), Adam, Abraham, Moses, Noah, Jacob, Joseph, Jesus, Mohammad, and many others (peace be upon them all). We don't worship any of these prophets or messengers, we only worship Allah and no other with Him. This is what the first of the Ten Commandments say. Worship only one God and no other. So please before you go spreading lies about a religion, get your facts straight and please provide proof; just as the Quran asks and requires us to do. Please don't base all of your decisions about Muslims on the acts of a few. Thank you and inshallah (If Allah wills) that you all will find peace with yourselves and allow the truth to prevail. Please look at these web sites and see for yourself that what I am saying is the truth.
http://thedeenshow.com/
http://www.gainpeace.com/

[6591Hou]

Idiocy of the first order - let's follow through with this genius and condemn cars for killing people, brewers and distillers, metalsmiths and gunsmiths, and the list goes on and on until everybody and everything has been condemned and destroyed.....just stop giving this idiot any headlines!

[Fuzzygoddess]

Ultra right wing zealot Muslims burn people! They behead people, including not just the Infidels but their own children. The radical zealot terrorist Muslim would happily kill everyone on this forum who panders to their right to be radical zealot terrorists, in the name of the religion that compels and inspires their deviant behavior as a sign of devotion to Allah.

Burn baby burn! Better to burn a Koran than those who obey the Koran by verse, burn the whole world. Besides, the proper way in the Koran for a Koran to be destroyed is through setting it afire.

The racists out there identify Muslims as two different sets of people. The radical and the moderate. But talk to any Muslim, as most people never do who none the less pander to Islam, and those Muslims will tell you there is no identity in Islam as that what differentiates believers between those who are radical and those who are moderate. Islam is Islam, they say. There is no radical Islam as opposed to a moderate version of Islam.

That's not to say there aren't Muslims who claim the name but don't obey the letter of the law of Islam. Just like any faith there are those who find comfort clad in the vestment of the faith, without living the truth of it.
But to think radical Islam need not be addressed, or warred against just as radically and terroristically as radical Islam wars against the rest of the world, is absurd.
A radical Muslim would kill any one of us, in the name of 72 virgins and the ability to enjoy all those sins after life, that are forbidden to be enjoyed, but are readily accessible without the murderous admittance fee, right here on earth while alive to enjoy the sensation.

F**ck radical Islam.
Now, if only this would start a trend burning other holy books that are just as guilty of these crimes that warranted the fire being set to the Koran.
The difference between Fundy Muslims and Far right wing ultra conservative Fundy Christians is,not much. As the murders of abortion doctors across the U.S. stand as testament.

[jowand1]

It's ok to burn the flag, or to burn the bible, but not the koran?

[Mannyroca]

Take a reallity check. A small church so called pastor burning the Quran at a mock trial for what reason? Then telling if we don't like it then have our own trial. Next thing : Riots, murder, Taliban sponsored propaganda. Innocent 11 individuals fron the UN compount killed. Extremist and extremism have no bounds. For once that Pastor at Fl. acted against the Holy Bible's teaching of "love your neighbour as you love your self" and the last command of Jesus to make disciples of the world. Besides, who is he to judge?
No, his actions were wrong and uncalled for.
--Manuel R Roca-Ekonen

[pjhnsn8]

This is an example of an old a** man who needs some attention. He will do anything to be seen or heard. Probably suffering from early stages of dementia.

[busterdawggy]

Why are we giving this hate-monger any press at all? That is what he thrives on. He is no Christian in spirit.

[buckn]

Physician, heal thyself.