Today is 9/11. The United States and the rest of the world are commemorating the events that unfolded on that Tuesday morning of nine years ago. Events still imprinted in the memory of those who followed the drama and which left a devastating impact on the lives of many families and communities. Nine years after 9/11, the US and its allies are still struggling to bring some sort of order and normality in Afghanistan, the country then run by the Taliban and which was accused of harbouring Al Qaeda.
The anniversary of 9/11 has always been a solemn occasion in which peace and tolerance are preached. This year’s event seems to be different as the day is marked with controversy and protests that followed a statement by one pastor from a small Florida congregation who at one point vowed to burn copies of the Koran later on today.
The Koran is sacred to Muslims as the Bible is to us Christians. This was indeed an insane act by one man who does not in any way represent the views of a nation. Pastor Terry Jones does not even represent the views of his small congregation because his 100 or so followers were halved when the news broke out.
It is wrong for anyone to associate Islam with terrorism. Millions of Muslims across the world are law-abiding citizens who condemn the actions of the few fellow Muslims. The members of Al Qaeda, responsible for the 9/11 and other terrorist attacks, do not represent the Muslim communities. They were not adhering to the preaching of the Koran when committing the attacks on citizens of all faiths.
The burning of copies of the Koran in a small town would have probably gone unnoticed had the media ignored Pastor Jones. The news, however, made instant national and international headlines and condemnation for the pastor and his intentions came from every corner of the globe. Protesters in countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan poured onto the streets reminding us of the widespread reactions that unfolded a few years ago when a Danish newspaper published a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed as a terrorist and the publication in 1988 of the controversial book The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie.
Burning copies of the Koran would probably draw a bigger reaction in Muslim communities and it does not come as a surprise that world leaders not only condemned the pastor’s idea but also urged him to call it off.
On Thursday night, the pastor announced he was putting the event on hold. He claimed that a deal was reached with the Imam to relocate the Islamic centre planned near the site of the Twin Towers in New York. The Imam, however, denied the claims so we could be back to square one if Pastor Jones reverts to his decision. (The pastor is travelling to New York hoping to meet the Imam.)
The world’s eyes will be on Gainesville, Florida this evening to see what will happen. World leaders are holding their breath. Like the rest of us they are hoping the pastor does the right thing, acts sensibly and calls off the event. As President Barack Obama said earlier this week, such an event will be a recruitment bonanza for Al Qaeda. This is what Al Qaeda wants. This is the sort of thing any person in his right frame of mind wants to avoid.
Let us not forget, however, that such actions were not orchestrated by a government or a powerful institution. These are the actions of one man. Pastor Jones acted alone in this matter and the world leaders had to react. They did the right thing by not ignoring the pastor’s folly.