[Iran Press] Pastor Terry Jones has decided to cancel his plan to burn the holy Quran at his Florida-based church, a plan which had drawn fierce international criticism.
Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center church announced on Thursday that "we have agreed to cancel our event on Saturday," ABC reported.
Upon announcement the blasphemous plan to burn the holy Quran drew domestic and international condemnation.
| It's only blasphemy if believers do it, my dear IranPress reporter. When unbelievers do it... it's something else. |
US President Barack Obama had earlier urged Jones to withdraw from his plan, saying, "I just want him to understand that this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women who are in uniform."
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the plan, describing it as "disrespectful and disgraceful."
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki blamed the plan on the failure of US policies to protect the basic rights of American Muslims.
The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue labeled the scheme as a "deplorable act of violence."
A spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Wednesday that "we strongly condemn any kind of attempt of this kind."
The United Nations Secretary General Bank Ki-moon slammed the plan saying, "Such actions cannot be condoned by any religion."
Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Pakistan, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the NATO have also condemned the plan.
Meanwhile, Jonse said on Thursday that his decision came after he reaches a deal with Imam Abdel Rauf, the leader of the proposed Ground Zero Islamic cultural center and mosque, to mover the facility. "He has agreed to move it," Jones said referring to the Ground Zero Islamic cultural center and mosque.
| It seems that Florida imam, a man of God in his religion, lied in front of witnesses. No doubt he thought that was clever at the time. |
However, SoHo Properties, the developer of the community center that is being called the Ground Zero Mosque, denied the report. "The Muslim Community Center called Park51 in Lower Manhattan is not being moved," SoHo Properties said in a statement, adding that "the project will proceed as planned." |