ORLANDO IMAM TRIES TO SAVE THE DAY

Orlando Imam Muhammad Musri who met with Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Church today and has been liaising with representatives of the “Ground Zero” mosque in New York, is trusting that the pastor “will keep his word” and not move ahead with his Quran-burning plan on Saturday.

Jones had said earlier the planned bonfire had been canceled after claiming a deal had been brokered with Imam Rauf in New York to move the “Ground Zero” mosque from its proposed current location.  But, after much confusion, Jones’ latest position on the planned Quran-burning day is that the event has been “suspended”.

After Jones declared publicly he was calling off the “International Burn a Quran Day” on Saturday and urging others not to burn Qurans, Imam Rauf issued a statement saying, no deal had been struck to move the “Ground Zero” mosque.

“I’m glad that Pastor Jones has decided to not burn any Qurans. However, I have not spoken to Pastor Jones or Imam Musri”, Rauf said. “I am surprised by their announcement. We are not going to toy with our religion or any other. Nor are we going to barter. We are here to extend our hands to build peace and harmony.”

Imam Musri explained that he had never told Jones a deal had been struck with Imam Rauf.  Imam Musri noted that, all that had been agreed to was a meeting between Jones, Imam Rauf and himself at some future date in New York, to discuss the possibility of moving park51.  Musri added that while he told Jones it would be a good gesture if the “Ground Zero” mosque were to be moved in view of its sensitivities, he was very clear that the pastor understood that no “barter deal” had been made.  Musri said in his view, the matter of the “Ground Zero” mosque and the Quran-burning plan were two separate issues.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Jones’ public pronouncements to cancel the “International Burn the Quran Day” came in the wake of a telephone call from Defense Secretary Robert Gates who asked him not to go forward with the event.

Gates joins a long list of administration officials, including President Barack Obama and Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who have denounced the Quran-burning plan.

See Video of Pastor Jones Announcing Cancellation of Quran Burning.