Subscribe
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE

A Florida church is making headlines after announcing that it will burn copies of the Koran on the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

The Dove World Outreach Center of Gainesville, Florida made the announcement on its Facebook page and encouraged other churches to join them in “standing against Islam!” because “Islam is the devil.”

The church’s pastor Terry Jones who has written a book on his disdain for the religion titled “Islam Is The Devil”, tells the Agence France-Press,

“Islam and Sharia law was responsible for 9/11. We will burn Korans because we think it’s time for Christians, for churches, for politicians to stand up and say no; Islam and Sharia law is not welcome in the U.S

While Jones’ church has received over 1,500 “like” praises on the social network, the pastor says he’s also received death threats and criticism.

“”We’ve got many death threats from jihad groups, but we cannot react by fear and we cannot compromise our beliefs. Somebody must stand up.”

The spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations has denounced Jones and his following and tells the Associated Free Press,

“Unfortunately in [Florida] and nationwide, Islamophobia are actually on the rise. I’m more afraid of those who have anti-Muslim sentiments and may think this is a legitimate action and may want to attack a mosque or attack a Muslim on the street.”

The Dove Outreach Center is also planning an anti-homosexuality event titled “The No Homo Mayor Protest” to denounce the city’s first openly gay mayor Craig Lowe.