http://blog.seattlepi.com/hottopics/2011/03/22/2-2-million-fatwa-on-terry-jones-after-quran-burning/$2.2 million fatwa on Terry Jones after Quran burning
Terry Jones, the Florida evangelical pastor who threatened to hold a Quran burning last Sept. 11 only to back down in the face of international outrage, finally went ahead and burned one.
And now there’s a 2.2-million-dollar price on his head.
Jones appointed himself “judge” and presided over a trial hearing evidence and testimony against Islam’s holy book. A “jury” found the book guilty of crimes against humanity; promoting terrorist acts; raping, torturing and killing people “whose only crime was not being of the Islamic faith.” Also, its treatment of women was found lacking.
Interestingly, lethal injection and electrocution, the two forms of capital punishment in Florida, were not offered to the convicted holy book. Instead, an online Facebook poll picked the sentence from these choices – burning, shredding, drowning or firing squad. Burning won.
Sentence was carried out by soaking the convicted in kerosene, placing it a metal tray and igniting it with a barbecue lighter. Thirty people witnessed the execution.
Jones’ kangaroo court stunt was obviously aimed at provoking a response, but the Council on American-Islamic Relations didn’t take the bait.
“Terry Jones had his 15 minutes of fame and we’re not going to help him get another few minutes,” said Spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.
Unfortunately, Pakistan did.
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the desecration of the Quran during his address to a joint sitting of parliament. The country’s Foreign Office in Islamabad called it a “despicable act.”
Pakistanis are already angry at the United States over the release last week of an American CIA employee who was arrested after he shot and killed two men who he says were trying to rob him.
Pakistan’s Jamaat-ud-Dawah, a banned Islamic organization and suspected terrorist group, announced a reward of 10 crore rupees (about $2.2 million) for anyone who kills the preacher.
Jones is probably pleased that at least the terrorists are taking him seriously.