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UN Blames Florida Pastor for Violence in Mazar-e-Sharif
[Tolo News] The UN Chief's envoy to Afghanistan, Staffan De Mistura, strongly criticised the Florida pastor for burning a copy of the Koran which sparked violent demonstrations in Afghanistan.On Friday, hundreds erupted into the streets in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif to protest at the Koran burning in a Florida church. Some protesters who were reportedly armed killed 7 foreign workers of the UN, that followed strong condemnation by the Afghan government, the UN Secretary General and the US President. Mr Staffan De Mistura blamed the violence on the Florida pastor, describing the burning of the holy Koran as "insane and totally deprecable gesture by one person". I don't think we should be blaming any Afghans, we should blame the one who burnt the Koran, he said addressing a news conference in Kabul on Saturday. Freedom of speech does not mean to offend culture, religion and traditions, he added. Mr De Mistura reiterated the UN's commitment to continue its assistance to the Afghan people despite the attack on its Mazar office. "The Secretary General is of the opinion and I am of the same opinion that this should not deter UN presence and activities in this delicate and particularly crucial period, said Mr De Mistura addressing a news conference in Kabul. The UN has temporarily shifted its staff to Kabul until the office building in Mazar is repaired. Meanwhile, ...back at the Senate, Odius Sepulcher put forth his proposition... the US commander of Coalition forces in Afghanistan General David Petraeus and Mark Sedwill Nato's senior civilian representative in Afghanistan have also condemned the burning of the holy Koran in Florida. "I have just released a statement on behalf of Nato and Isaf forces in Afghanistan. In that statement we condemn the action of individual in the United States who burnt a holy Koran, That action was hateful, it was intolerant and it was extremely disrespectful. And again we condemn it in the strongest manner possible," General Petraeus told TOLOnews on Sunday. Mr Petraeus urged the Afghans to demonstrate calm and do the opposite of what the pastor in the United States has done. Nato's Senior Civilian Representative Mark Sedwill reinforced what General Petraeus said. "This was an act of disrespect to the Mohammedan faith, and to all peoples of faith. It does not present the views of peoples or governments of the alliance, we condemn it, our condolences of course goes out to all those who have been hurt in the demonstrations over the past few days," Mr Sedwill said. Mr Sedwill called on the Afghan people to remember that it was the act of an isolated individual, and the peoples and the governments of the alliance both respect and defend the Mohammedan faith and are in Afghanistan to support a peaceful future for the Afghan people. Pastor Wayne Sapp burnt a copy of the Koran in Florida on 20 March, under the supervision of Pastor Terry Jones who had last year planned and cancelled a Koran burning ceremony. Posted by: Fred 2011-04-04 |
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