A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry reads: "It goes without saying that the unacceptable measures taken by US priest would result in fueling the anger of Muslims throughout the world, something which makes the U.S. government more responsible vis-à-vis efforts to prevent such radical measures."
Officials of the Foreign Ministry called this motion as another attempt by the orchestrators of the project of fighting Islam and the planners of the clash between civilizations and religions in the U.S. And the West.
"The Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns such insulting acts in the United States which are taken on different pretexts backed by propaganda through media. It also believes that the international community is awaiting serious reaction by the US government against such extremist measures."
The controversial Florida Pastor Terry Jones burned copies of the Holy Qur’an and a picture of the prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday.
The statement follows: "It's transparent that the former crimes committed by the US military force in Abu Gharib and Guantánamo prisons as well as the painful act of Qur'an burning in the Bagram Prison in Afghanistan are absolutely questionable."
"On the other hand, the avoidance of the U.S. statesmen of confronting the elements of such measures has emboldened the insulters and extremists like Terry Jones. As the U.S. administration systematically pretends to be ignorant about the issue, it must immediately apologize the Islamic world," the statement adds.
The unacceptable burning act of the Holy Qur’an took place in front of Jone’s church on the pretext of protesting against the imprisonment of allegedly a Muslim converted to Christianity to become a priest. The provocative act was attended by only 20 persons and streamed live over the Internet, was carried out
Moments later, Gainesville Fire Rescue issued the church a citation for violating the city's fire ordinances, Gainesville Sun reported
Saturday's act of protest was carried out in spite of published reports that the Pentagon had urged Jones to reconsider, expressing concern that American soldiers in Afghanistan and elsewhere could be put at greater risk because of the act.
A little more than a year ago, on March 20, 2011, Dove World assistant pastor Wayne Sapp shamelessly burned a copy of Holy Qu’ran and broadcast it on the Internet.
Reports and images of the Holy Quran burning incited violence in northern Afghanistan in which at least 12 people were killed. Days later, a man wearing an Afghan border police uniform shot dead two American military personnel.
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