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Deadly Protests Continue Against Koran Burning

At least 8 people are killed in Kandahar

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 2, 2011 10:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – Pastor Terry Jones' Koran-burning stunt continues to reverberate across the world. At least eight people were killed in a riot in Kandahar today while protesting Jones' actions last month, reports al-Jazeera and CNN. The unrest follows the death of a dozen people yesterday, including seven UN workers, during a riot in the normally peaceful northern town of Mazar-e Sharif.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Kandahar, clashed with police, and set fire to shops. About 70 were injured. Afghan officials say the Taliban infiltrated otherwise peaceful protests in both cities to incite violence, but the group denies it, notes Reuters. "The Taliban had nothing to do with this, it was a pure act of responsible Muslims," said a spokesman. "The foreigners brought the wrath of the Afghans on themselves by burning the Koran."

Afghan protesters march in Kandahar Saturday. (AP Photo/Allauddin Khan)

An Afghan policeman is seen through the window of a burnt vehicle at the compound of the UN office in Mazar-e Sharif. (AP Photo/Mustafa Najafizada)

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Showing 3 of 105 comments

Miles

Apr 6, 2011 2:11 PM CDT

I do not support the Koran book burning. However the actions taken by many Muslims in Afghanistan is beyond atrocious. Killing another person because of a religious offenses is reminiscent of medieval Europe. It goes to show the Ignorance of the Afghans. It also goes to show how pervasive violence is in Afghanistan. U.N staff members have nothing to do with a Koran being burned. Even so, murder is not justifiable for this. I would hope these aren't the actions of the average Muslim in Afghanistan. However, articles on BBC and CNN make it seem otherwise. Crowds surging onto the streets and raiding a U.N headquarters, and thereafter stabbing and beheading those who they came across. Hearing instances like these goes to show how backward the Afghans are. It angers me greatly and I'm sure it does the same to many other Americans and Westerners. While I don't agree with the Koran book burning, however, a point was made. Terry Jones claims that the Koran is a book of hate. He also claims Islam as "violent and oppressive". By Muslims extreme reaction to a Koran being burned it shows to some degree truth in the accusations. But just like with all religions you may find a few bad apples. Its just hard to make this argument when entire peoples go out and violently protest and commit murder within Afghanistan. Its even harder to make this argument when you see that its world wide.

BoZo

Apr 3, 2011 3:06 PM CDT

8 people killed and 70 injured by "responsible muslims", eh?

Ana58

Apr 3, 2011 11:22 AM CDT

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT! My Wicca friends and I are having a book burning festival featuring the Bible, Koran,Torah, Book of the Dead, Wiccan bible, AND AS AN ADDED TREAT, a few Mark Twain novels today at River Legacy park in Arlington Texas at 3:00. Be there or be square! We're not doing this because we have any problems with any of those books, we're just doing it to draw attention to how stupid it is to burn books at all. Ok ok, this is just a late April fools joke. Book burning is stupid, but burning one's holy books to invoke hatred and violence is just beyond stupid. I agree with LPL on this, if Muslims are upset, and you have every a right to be because some idiot clown in Florida burned a Koran, just go burn some bibles instead, but PLEASE enough of the killing! It's just a book, even our Wiccan bible is just a book and nothing more. No amount of bible/koran book burning will ever justify even one death of another human being.

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Afghanistan • Islam • Kandahar • Koran • Islamophobia • Terry Jones • Koran burning

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Deadly Protests Continue Against Koran Burning

At least 8 people are killed in Kandahar

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Afghanistan • Islam • Kandahar • Koran • Islamophobia • Terry Jones • Koran burning

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