Muslim and Christian clergy say people should not confront the controversial Florida pastor who plans to protest jihad and Sharia law in front of a Dearborn mosque today.
Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini leads the Islamic Center of America, where Pastor Terry Jones wants to stage his protest. He says Jones is looking for publicity, and that’s his right:
"But when he calls himself a religious leader, a pastor, then he should hold himself to a higher standard, and that is our problem with him."
Reverend Charles Williams Junior says there will be no conflict in Dearborn if the protest goes forward tonight. And he says he hopes the reaction is the same elsewhere:
"We want to call on our brothers and sisters across the world: please do not respond to this ignorant fellow. Please do not respond."
Violent protests erupted in Afghanistan after Jones burned a copy of the Qur’an at his Florida church.
Jones is representing himself at a trial to decide whether he should be required to pay a hefty security bond to stage his protest. Jones says he’ll hold his rally as planned, whatever the jury decides.
