Deep Thoughts: Iran calls for Terry Jones’ arrest

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Iran calls for Terry Jones’ arrest

If we needed a reason to fear Islam, Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani gave us one. A call for the arrest of pastor Terry Jones.

"On behalf of a half billion Muslims, I condemn this savage plan and warn of its consequences," Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani, one of the senior clergy figures in Iran, said in a statement…
…"This pastor should be immediately arrested and his church closed down," the ayatollah said in the statement, which was carried on the website of Iran's state-television IRIB.

Our gut response is to recoil from the though of silencing Terry Jones via an official state action. The is no way we would even consider this option in the United States. It does not stopping our citizens and leaders from asking Terry Jones to stop, and many have. It does not stop us from labeling him a nutball or fringe Christian either, and many have, myself included. But when it comes to the question of silencing Terry Jones, I would fight to make sure he could have his protest. It is the American way.

On September 11, after Terry Jones has burned a stack of Korans, Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani will issue a fatwa calling for the death of Jones and possibly even the members of his church. We will then be obligated to protect him when the agents of Islam try to call him to account. Terry Jones is no Salman Rushdie, he does not deserve our protection, but he will get it none the less.

Technorati Tags: Terry Jones,Islam,Iran

Comments (18)

Logging you in...

Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout

Logged in as

0 Vote up Vote down

Ron Dominique · 759 weeks ago

A Christian artist named Trashton Porter, releases a new song that condemns pastor Terry Jones, the man who plans to burn the Quran. The song titled "Any Good Christian" can be found on youtube.

2 replies · active 757 weeks ago

0 Vote up Vote down

Betty Falch-Johnson · 757 weeks ago

What's wrong with Americans? It's O.K. for Muslims to burn the American flag---and O.K. to build a Mosque as a monument and tribute to the the Muslim Terrorist's victory at Ground Zero in destroying the Twin Towers.

But a threat to burn copies of the Koran from a small, little-known Florida Pastor bring condemnation from so many quarters--even the U.S. Pres. & Gen Petraeus. Sad!!

0 Vote up Vote down

RFR · 757 weeks ago

I wonder, if people would feel the same way about Terry Jones, if he had lost a loved one at the twin towers and an other in Iraq?

I feel not the Muslims, but these terrorist's, who hide behind religion are the the cause of the problem.They play us againts each other, while chilling in there caves, enjoying the show.

I used to think America is the one, no country would try to mess with. Lately, not so much. :(

+1 Vote up Vote down

eyce · 759 weeks ago

We should put a contract out on Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani for threatening America and one of her citizens. Just because Pastor Jones threatened to burn a bunch of books, does not justify threatening an entire nation or her citizens. Who is the extremists here. Even if Pastor were not to burn these secular books, the Ayatollah would still call for the destruction of America. Wake up

3 replies · active 757 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Mojoey 107p · 759 weeks ago

I think in this case that you are the extremist. You suggest murdering someone because the asked for the arrest of an American citizen. Your logic is stupefying.

Sent from my iPhone

0 Vote up Vote down

nareen · 758 weeks ago

I think you need to double check your words because its not any stack of books this is the Quran your talking about like the person said in the other comment below "how would you feel if they burned a bunch of bibles and the american flag" That pastor needs to shut up and keep shut that bastard was about to be the cause of thousands of innocent soldiers dying and a nation being targeted. Their isn way the muslims are going to sit back and keep shut about this and they have every reason not to keep shut.This is "The land of the free"

0 Vote up Vote down

RFR · 757 weeks ago

I am just curious? Are you saying the Quran is worth more than the Bible?

0 Vote up Vote down

Beth Lun · 759 weeks ago

Iran gets more outrageous everyday!

0 Vote up Vote down

tasha · 759 weeks ago

Iran? PLEASE! you mean America! When the hell did it become ok to go out and attack people for their religious beliefs. This "pastor" is really just a spokesperson for hate and racism. How would americans feel if someone- anyone, threatened to burn a stack of bibles and the american flag? COME ON! and can you blame them? As much as you love your religion, they love theirs. This is AMERICA!!! Land of the FREE. Everyone should be able to practice their religion freely. How can you call yourself an American and say hateful things like that about your fellow Americans? Americans died in 9/11too. This hate speech is disgusting. I dont understand why people here in the US are so hateful of people in other countries. They we wonder why everyone hates us...

2 replies · active 759 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Mojoey 107p · 759 weeks ago

I really have no idea what your point is or who is is directed toward.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Baconsbud 96p · 759 weeks ago

Where in the US Constitution does it say I have to respect your religion? I agree the pastor is mainly about hate but that is still protected speech unless he uses it to lead people into acts of violence. I could care less if people want to burn bibles or US Flags because I think the bible is a load of crap and the flag is just that a flag,. The flag isn't what makes this country what it is but the people within the country. People use the flag as a rally symbol and they don't always use it in a way that is proper to use. No one here is trying to stop anyone from practicing their religion and no burning books isn't a part of a religion nor should it be. Again why does disagreeing with someone make a person un-American? Being able to disagree with others is one of the most important freedoms we have and has many times kept people from abusing their power. You sound confused and unsure of what you believe. Actually most people in the USA aren't really that hateful in my opinion. You have to understand that much of the hate you see in the media isn't much more then a small percentage of people but that it can be big money for the media sources. Until hate is no longer a big money maker for the media, hate will always get more air time then it deserves.

0 Vote up Vote down

Allen · 759 weeks ago

40 plus years ago, Lebanon was once considered and called the "Paris" of the Middle East. It was the banking, cultural, and education center. The predominate Christian population believed in religious tolerance and allowed Islamic immigration. In short order, radicals moved in, set up Medrasas, terrorist camps, began shelling Isreal and killing Chistians by the hundreds. Lebanon is now a wasteland and their 100 year plan is bent on making America an Islamic state. Tolerance? Koran says that there are only Muslims and infidels. If an infidel will not convert to Islam... KILL HIM !!! Only a religion? Right. Islam and it's Koran "book of hatred" is Satanic. You will know for shure when your grandaughters are flogged in the streets of New York for failing to were a berka.

0 Vote up Vote down

Marianne K Milks · 759 weeks ago

NO-ONE has the right to inflict pain on others, whether emotional or physical. This miss-guided man is a menace to society, and ridicules Christianity, Islam and all other religions. There was once another Jones...remember? And do not let a man exercise his 'freedom of speech' when he doesn't have the intelligence to allow others the same. How will he face God on his Day of Judgment? "So sorry God, I didn't get it...didn't see we were all created equal in Your eyes. I didn't mean to take Your role. Didn't intend to have the blood of other lives, Christians and Muslim alike, on my hands. But you'll forgive me, because I was a GOOD Christian, right?" You, Islamic people, have my compassion and respect. I apologize for what one crazed American has started. Please show intelligence the man doesn't have. Please - do not have blood shed in the name of this man who doesn't have the intelligence to understand nor the wisdom, nor the respect for the millions of Christians who do not see God's word this way. Christianity has caused enough bloodshed in the name of religion through wars among each other, crusades and persecution (often the reason to come to the US). Let's not start again. Whatever you believe, m friends,please pray for his and our wisdom in whichever language or religion you pray.
Pastor Jones: What would Jesus do? He would preach peace, forgiveness and acceptance. Perhaps you have a different Bible?
'

1 reply · active 759 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Baconsbud 96p · 759 weeks ago

Marianne didn't he say that it was his god that told him to do this? Are you saying he is lying about god telling him to do this? Could it be that many who claim god tells them to do something are actually lying?

Where in the bible does it say all are created equally? If I remember correctly most of the bible says how non-believers are less in the eyes of your god and women within your religion are second to men. That kind of flies in the face of being created equal. Where in the bible does it say we have freedom of speech? I think you are confusing your bible with the US Constitution.

How do you know he is a crazy person? Just because someone is doing something you dislike doesn't make him crazy. I see him as no different then those freaking out about the Muslim community centers around the country. If you look at most of these people they are supposedly good christians. I would say Terry Jones and Fred Phelps are no more crazy then anyone else that uses religion in any way to justify their hate.

Why would praying help in any way? Since Jones says it was god that told him to do it anyway. Are you saying that your god is wrong?

0 Vote up Vote down

justavoice · 759 weeks ago

I sit on my couch I see the burning of the American flags, signs with hateful words of violence toward one particular religion and country and hear the chanting of, "death to Christians" on my TV. I sit in front of my computer and see and hear the same.
Is pastor Jones right to "slap" back after years and years of "slaps" from muslims?
Maybe. After years of silence from this side of the world why shouldn't someone say "STOP"? Why shouldn't a member of the particular religious affiliation or country say "Enough"? I see America and its citizens being scared to speak up and say "stop".

0 Vote up Vote down

justavoice · 759 weeks ago

Stop cutting off the heads of news reporters and anyone else who isn't your religion. Stop invading towns and homes and raping, mutilating, killing and kidnapping those who aren't your religion. If Islam is Peace then show it by supporting freedom. Freedom to say "no, I dont want to be your religion I think I'm fine how I am". Freedom to disagree about worldviews and anything else you don't agree with. This Jones guy is protesting in a non violent way, with no hate messages taped to his back or held in his hand. He doesnt agree with the words in a book so what, its just paper. If it's something special that God wants not to burn He'll stop it. It's no different then Muslims burning Christian Bibles or even their churches (with people in it). I'd rather see someone protest with a book then take human life or mutilate human bodies for the sake of their "religion/god".

0 Vote up Vote down

Diye · 758 weeks ago

To say no to a religion is a free and justifiable choice. There is no compulsion in religion. To go beyond that freedom is in no way justifiable.

0 Vote up Vote down

Diye · 758 weeks ago

The essence of Freedom is in the context of abandoning being a nuisance to or affecting other components, equally important

Post a new comment

Comment as a Guest, or login:

Tweet this comment

Connected as (Logout)

Email (optional)

Not displayed publicly.

Submit Comment

Subscribe to

Comments by IntenseDebate

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)