The importance of religious tolerance

Mariam Mokhtar

Sunday, 12 September 2010 09:00

COMMENT It should not be possible for one man, Pastor Terry Jones, of the Dove World Outreach Centre and his congregation of 50, to hold the world to ransom.

The reverend’s publicity stunt to burn the Quran has snowballed into something unpredictable. Instead of the desired attention, he has provoked worldwide condemnation.

The townsfolk at Gainesville, Florida have disowned him, and called him “crazy” and his plan “a stupid idea”. Christians have voiced their disapproval saying he does not represent them.

Various European newspapers allege that Terry Jones and his wife Sylvia, were expelled by members of his church, from Cologne, Germany, in 2007. It was claimed that he presided over “a climate of fear and control” and demanded “blind obedience”.

In Florida, Jones who owns an antique and used furniture business, was accused of treating his unpaid workers, who were ‘motivated by their Christian beliefs’, like slaves. Whilst he alternated between two homes, his workers lived in low-rent accommodation. Employees were frequently punished for disobedience and some worked 72 hours per week. His daughter Emma described her father’s church as a “cult”.

Setting fire to the Quran, or any other despicable act against other religions, are highly offensive.

The pastor’s plan, timed for the anniversary of 9/11 is like playing with fire. He has received over 100 death threats and now arms himself with a pistol.

Instead of believing he would be the defender of his faith, he has threatened the safety of all Americans worldwide. Gen David Petraeus, the US commander in Afghanistan has warned that the lives of the American troops fighting the Taliban would be endangered.

The publicity stunt that the pastor assumed was praiseworthy, has incurred the fury of Muslims. He became the focus of world leaders, but for the wrong reasons. President Obama likened the pastor’s plan as a ‘recruitment bonanza for al-Qaeda’. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia said it would ‘damage attempts to reconcile Muslims and the west’.

Mrs. Hillary Clinton, America’s Secretary of State deserves praise to be amongst the first (if not the first) high profile American to denounce Reverend Jones. But even the late intervention of her president may be insufficient to stop the backlash against Americans in the Muslim world.

At a time when Pakistan and American relations are under serious threat, this stunt has added further strain. The American flag was burned in Pakistan and violent protestors have already marched in Afghanistan, resulting in at least one death.

Terry Jones chose the anniversary of 9/11 to remind the world of the work of Islamist extremists. His protest which was supposed to be an organised church activity has now backfired.

Although he has cancelled his plan after listening to the voices of reason from within and beyond his shores, the world holds its breath to see if violent Islamist extremists will react further.

Malaysians have a lesson to learn from the stupid and ignorant Reverend Jones whose insensitivity and direct provocation have stirred racial, political and religious firestorms.

It is easy for agitators or mob leaders to whip up hatred with their bigotry, intolerance and fear-tactics.

It is important that we counter people similar to Reverend Terry Jones, who with their racism and ignorance, are merchants of hate and do their best to alienate good, decent citizens who only want peace and mutual respect.