Inevitably, right-wing anti-Muslim bias triggers violence.
Last Week:
Terry Jones burns Koran; Christians, Muslims protest (photos, videos)
On March 28, 2011 it was announced that a group of Christians and Muslims would speak at a Baptist church in Detroit, Michigan in protests of the Florida pastor, Terry Jones, who oversaw the burning of the Koran last week. Terry Jones made worldwide headlines when he threatened to hold an event outside of his Gainesville, Florida church commemorating the ninth anniversary of the September 11th attacks by burning the Koran. He had called the event, “International Burn a Koran Day,” but after great backlash and a meeting with the FBI, he backed out. On March 20, 2011 between 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm, Terry Jones oversaw another pastor, Wayne Sapp, as they put the religion of Islam on trial, found the faith guilty, and then oversaw the burning of the Koran.
Today:
Afghan Mob Kills 10 United Nations Workers
Protesters angered by the burning of a Koran by a fringe American pastor in Florida mobbed offices of the United Nations in northern Afghanistan on Friday, killing ten foreign staff members and beheading two of the victims, according to an Afghan police spokesman. Five Afghans were also killed.
This was almost inevitable. Religious attacks and incitement spark reprisals. Does Terry Jones control the actions of the Afghans who brutally attacked the UN office today? No. Is he solely responsible? No. But is he responsible for his own incitement, and did he play a key role in contributing to needless bloodshed? Absolutely.