Pastor Terry Jones of the Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center, which reportedly has about 50 members, said he understands US government concerns that the provocative burning of Islam's holy book could increase dangers for US personnel in foreign countries. Jones, who has said he believes Islam is a "violent and oppressive religion," said on September 7 that he is still praying over whether to burn Qurans -- but has indicated that the event is still planned to go forward. The Obama administration, top US military officials, and NATO have all called for the cancellation of the burning, saying it could trigger outrage in the Muslim world and put Western troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere at greater risk of attack. Leading American Christian and Jewish leaders have also spoken against it, calling it an attack on religious freedom and an act of religious intolerance. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking on September 7 at the State Department at an iftar, the meal at which Muslims break their daily fast during the month of Ramadan, called the planned Quran burning "disrespectful" and "disgraceful".
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US church defiant despite condemnation of Quran burning
US church defiant despite condemnation of Quran burning
