Kabul, April 07: A leading Muslim youth organization in the United Kingdom has harshly condemned Qur’an burning in the US and its repercussions in Afghanistan.
“The burning of the Qur’an by Pastor Terry Jones and his bigots should be condemned without reservation,” said Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation,
“The burning of the Qur’an is an attack on all decent people and we should do whatever we can to highlight the disguising nature of such attacks,” he added.
“We also condemn the senseless murder of UN staff in Mazar-i-Sharif,” he said, urging the Afghan authorities to bring the terrorist to justice.”
At least 24 people, including seven UN staff, have been killed in a wave of protests against the burning of a copy of the holy Qur’an by the American pastor last month.
The UN workers were killed when protesters attacked their compound in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
Shafiq has also urged “Muslims around the world to protest peacefully and do not allow these bigots the opportunity to vilify our communities.”
Protests continue for a seventh day in Afghanistan over the Holy Qur’an desecration.
Hundreds of Afghans staged a fresh protest in the capital Kabul on Thursday, police and witnesses said.
“There was a peaceful protest by about 300 people in front of the Eid Gah Mosque. Thankfully, there was no violence and it lasted about one hour,” Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said.
So far, there have been no violent demonstrations against the Qur’an burning in Kabul, where many Americans and other foreigners working in Afghanistan are based.
—-Agencies