Pakistani, Indian Christians condemn burning of Koran in Florida

(25 March, 2011) Christians in India and Pakistan have denounced the burning of the Koran in a Church in the United States, saying such an act cannot be justified under any circumstance. A "disrespectful act of pure madness”, was how Sajan George, director of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), defined the action of Pastor Wayne Sapp, who on Sunday burned a Koran in a Florida church under the supervision of the evangelical preacher Terry Jones. "Freedom of expression,” said, “does not mean insulting others and hurting their religious sentiments." Pakistani Archbishop Lawrence John Saldanha of Lahore issued a statement on behalf of the Catholic bishops and Christians of Pakistan, condemning the burning as an “act of madness, which does not represent Christian values or teachings of the Church.” While condemning the act, GCIC Director Sajan George also drew attention to the alarming increase of cases of persecution of Christians around the world. He citing particularly pointed to the assassinations of Pakistan’s Punjab Governor, Salmaan Taseer, and the Catholic minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, as also the plight of Asia Bibi and many others. The burning of the Koran in Florida was also condemned by John Dayal of the All-India Christian Council, and Abraham Mathai, vice-chairman of India’s Maharashtra state minorities commission. Gordon D’Souza, president of the Bombay Catholic Sabha, appealed to Indians not to allow themselves be provoked by such an uncivilized behaviour of a pastor.