Quran burning detrimental to unity, contrary to teachings of all faith, says NCCI

The National Council of Churches in India and the Church of North India decried a Florida church's plan to lead a Quran burning on the ninth anniversary of the Sep. 11 attacks in US.

"Such an act is contrary to the spirit and essence of the teachings and practices of all faith and secular traditions, and particularly detrimental to the spirit of unity and comradeship that prevails among adherents of different faiths," the National Council of Churches in India said in a statement. "That it is called for during the sacred days of Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr is deplorable."

The NCCI called upon its Churches, Ecumenical Councils and Agencies to "reach out to Muslim brothers and sisters with a spirit of goodwill and friendship particularly at this time, which can be used by miscreants to sow seeds of division."

Despite protests against the plan from several quarters, the Dove World Outreach Center run by Pastor Terry Jones have decided to go ahead with the plan on Saturday. Jone's church follows the Pentecostal tradition.

The recently elected general secretary of the Church of North India as well condemned the "dastardly act" which he said was "most cowardly and unchristian". An organisation that has such pervert thinking cannot be considered representative of the Christians around the world, said Alwan Masih, the general secretary.

The Church of North India, the second largest Protestant Church in India, called upon its partners, the Presbyterian Church of USA, the Church of Brethren, the Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) and the United Church of Christ, in strongly condemning the intention and plan to burn the copies of Quran.

"At this time when the world is looking at the Islamic faith and the community, we call upon the brothers and sisters of the Islamic faith to view this unholy plan to burn the Quran as that of some pervert minds and not as representative of the whole Christian community," said Masih.

"We seek the intervention of the Govt. of India in using its diplomatic channels with the counterpart Govt. in the US for stopping the proposed act. This will send out a strong message of National Solidarity with the Muslim community in India, which is the world's second largest Muslim-minority population."

The Florida church's plan has apparently sparked widespread international condemnation.

Describing the act as "abhorrent," the United Nations has urged the organisers of the Quran burning not to proceed with their plan.

"If such an abhorrent act were to be implemented, it would only contribute to fuelling the arguments of those who are indeed against peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan," said the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, Staffan de Mistura.

"It could also put in jeopardy the efforts of so many Afghans and foreigners who are trying to assist Afghanistan to find its own way to peace and stability within the framework of its own culture, traditions and, indeed, religion," he said in a statement.