US 'sorry' over Afghan Koran row

22 Feb 2012, 6:18 am   -   Source: AFP
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Hundreds of other people protested in the Afghan capital as security forces dispatched reinforcements in a bid to stop the demonstrations from spiralling out of control. (AAP)

Hundreds of other people protested in the Afghan capital as security forces dispatched reinforcements in a bid to stop the demonstrations from spiralling out of control. (AAP)

The White House is apologising for the burning of Muslim holy books, as protesters hurling petrol bombs and firing slingshots besieged the largest US-run military base in Afghanistan, furious over reports that NATO troops burned copies of the Koran.

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The White House is apologising for the burning of Muslim holy books, as protesters hurling petrol bombs and firing slingshots besieged the largest US-run military base in Afghanistan, furious over reports that NATO troops burned copies of the Koran.
  
The enraged crowd shouted "Death to Americans" and "Death to infidels" as guards at Bagram Airbase, north of Kabul, responded by firing rubber bullets from a watchtower, said an AFP photographer, who was hit in the neck.
  
Hundreds of other people protested in the Afghan capital as security forces dispatched reinforcements in a bid to stop the demonstrations from spiralling out of control in the fiercely conservative Islamic country.

The White House is apologising for the burning of Muslim holy books, with Press secretary Jay Carney saying it was a "deeply unfortunate incident" that does not reflect the respect the US military has for the religious practices of the Afghans.

Carney echoed military officials on Tuesday in saying that the Koran burning at Bagram Air Field happened unintentionally, and an investigation was being undertaken to understand why it did and ensure it would not happen again.

A Western military official said the Korans were removed from a library at a nearby detention centre because they contained extremist messages. Carney did not address those specifics, referring questions to defence officials.

He said the administration was following the matter closely.

The US commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen, apologised and ordered an investigation into a report that troops "improperly disposed of a large number of Islamic religious materials which included Korans".
  
"I offer my sincere apologies for any offence this may have caused, to the president of Afghanistan, the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and most importantly, to the noble people of Afghanistan," he said.
  
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also apologised for the "inappropriate treatment" of copies of the Koran and promised a swift investigation.
  
Allen did not mention how the religious materials had been disposed of, but an AFP photographer was shown partly-burnt copies of the Koran said to have been saved from destruction by Afghan workers within the base.
  
Allen's remarkably candid statement, apparently aimed at damage limitation after similar incidents led to violence and attacks on foreigners, was played repeatedly on Afghan television.
  
Afghan President Hamid Karzai in a statement said he "strongly condemns the burning of copies of the Koran by American soldiers" and had assigned a delegation to investigate the incident.
  
The Taliban, who have been waging a decade-long insurgency against Karzai's Western-backed government, also condemned the Koran burning.
  
"Since the invasion of Afghanistan by the Americans, it is the 10th time they have taken such savage action to desecrate the sacred beliefs of Muslims," the Taliban said in a statement, calling for human rights organisations to "take action" to prevent such acts and "punish those criminals involved."
  
Allegations that NATO troops at Bagram had set fire to copies of the Muslim holy book were first reported by Afghans working at the base, a senior government official said.
  
A local police official said more than 2,000 people were demonstrating outside the sprawling US-run Bagram base at one stage.
  
The AFP photographer saw at least seven protesters hit by rubber bullets, some of them bleeding.
  
Sediq Sediqqi, an interior ministry spokesman, said Afghan security forces brought the demonstration under control and that by late afternoon it was over. He said one young protester had been wounded, but had no further details.
  
Another protest by about 500 people that broke out in the Pul-e-charkhi district of Kabul not far from major NATO bases on the Jalalabad road, was also over, police spokesman Ashamat Estanakzai told AFP.
  
Last April, 10 people were killed and dozens of others were injured during days of unrest unleashed by the burning of a Koran by American pastor Terry Jones in Florida.
  
Allen's statement reflected concern over the impact of the latest incident in the country, where US troops have been fighting the Taliban for more than 10 years and supporting Karzai's government.
  
"I have ordered an investigation into a report I received during the night that ISAF personnel at Bagram Airbase improperly disposed of a large number of Islamic religious materials which included Korans," he said.
  
"When we learned of these actions, we immediately intervened and stopped them. The materials recovered will be properly handled by appropriate religious authorities.
  
"We are thoroughly investigating the incident and we are taking steps to ensure this does not ever happen again. I assure you -- I promise you -- this was NOT intentional in any way."
  
Allen thanked "the local Afghan people who helped us identify the error, and who worked with us to immediately take corrective action".
  
Last month, US officials scrambled to condemn four US soldiers shown in an online video urinating on the bloodied corpses of three Taliban insurgents.
  
The video, including one of the soldiers saying "Have a great day, buddy", served as a reminder of previous abuses committed by US troops during the decade-long war.
  
bur-jf/mtp
DATELINE:BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Feb 21, 2012 (AFP) -

The White House is apologising for the burning of Muslim holy books in a pile of rubbish at a US military base in Afghanistan.

Press secretary Jay Carney says it was a "deeply unfortunate incident" that does not reflect the respect the US military has for the religious practices of the Afghans.

Carney echoed military officials on Tuesday in saying that the Koran burning at Bagram Air Field happened unintentionally, and an investigation was being undertaken to understand why it did and ensure it would not happen again.

A Western military official said the Korans were removed from a library at a nearby detention centre because they contained extremist messages. Carney did not address those specifics, referring questions to defence officials.

He said the administration was following the matter closely.

 

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Your Comments

budvv

Marty - from perth, 3 months ago

The Koran is a man made document. For people to kill their own kin because of it, is testing the intelligence of even the dumbest of us. Like the bible, the quoran/koran was written by people with a vested interest in controlling the masses, so that they would be all powerful. The koran did a better job than the bible, for example the difference between Muslim men and womens rights compared with Christians Men and Womens rights.

Quran taken out of Context

Jakob - from Sydney, 3 months ago

For those who disagree with Islam be truthful about why you disagree with the teachings. Be sure to study it yourself rather then relying on misunderstandings, half quotes, taken out of context or lies by others. If those who burned the Quran did not mean it or truely repented all would be forgiven in Islamic law (Different in each country) Respect and honour all human beings irrespective of their religion, color, race, sex, language, status, property, birth, profession/job and so on [17/70]

Agree

Callan - from Melbourne, 3 months ago

I agree big time

The American Invasion

Mona - from Australia, 3 months ago

The Koran states that it is punishable by Death to disrespect God and The Koran, in other words one cannot even criticise the thing. Fortunately the christian bible doesn't state the same and hence we can all see it for what it is, a man made invention to descibe things we did not understand , like thunder and lightning, disease and pestilence. No wonder Muslims are upset, God is everything, isn't it? The US military & govt has no respect for Afghans religion, they are at war because of it.

Books v people.

John - from Sydney, 3 months ago

While I respect all religions, I do not understand why there is absolute hysteria every time a Koran is damaged. People are dying by the dozens in Syria and barely a peep is said, burn a book and people riot. A sad indictment of people's priorities.

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