20 April 2011

Religious leaders from various backgrounds -- Protestant, Jewish, Catholic, Muslim and others -- plan to rally Thursday at the Islamic Center of America (pictured), where Pastor Terry Jones says he'll protest Friday against "radical Islam". The clergy and others plan to link hands in a circle around the mosque to symbolically shield it from Jones, whom they describe as divisive.

Among he participants are Catholic Archbishop Allen Vigneron and Episcopal Bishop Wendell Gibbs.

"This is an opportunity to show a different vision than the one he's bringing," said the Rev. Daniel Buttry, a Baptist pastor from Hamtramck with the Interfaith Leadership Council.

The council created an online petition that garnered more than 1,500 signatures. It reads, in part: "We ... stand together in condemning the actions of those who spew hate and fear, and who misuse and desecrate holy books of faith. Instead we call on people to carry out the best traditions of all religious faiths, embodied in the idea of doing to others as we would have them do to us."

But Qur'an burning Pastor Terry Jones (pictured right) says he's coming to Dearborn this Good Friday to peacefully protest against jihad and Shari'a, which he says threaten non-Muslims with violence, and to demand that Muslims submit to U.S. laws.

"They are more than welcome to worship freely, to build mosques," Terry Jones told the Free Press. "The only thing we ask of Muslims is that they honor, obey and submit to the Constitution of the United States."

The idea that Sharia precepts are infiltrating Western institutions has become increasingly popular in recent years among social conservatives and culture warriors. The growth of the idea has, in turn, led to counter informational campaigns like the one Saturday.

"It's absurd," said Michael W. Hovey, coordinator of interfaith relations for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. "There is no Sharia law in Dearborn or anywhere else in the United States. I mean it's not a conversation to be had. It's ridiculous."

The head of the mosque bristles when he hears about Jones' plan to demonstrate outside his Islamic center, which sits off Ford Road.

"Who is he to question our loyalty?" said Imam Hassan Qazwini, a Shi'a cleric known for his moderate views. "Muslims are as American as he is. He has no right to question the loyalty of American Muslims in this country. We are peaceful, patriotic citizens who love this country and care about it as much as any citizen."

Qazwini heads a mosque that is one of the older Islamic centers in the region. It has Arab-American members who go back several generations in the U.S. Born in Iraq, Qazwini has met and spoken with President George W. Bush, whom he embraced in Dearborn during the Iraq war, and President Barack Obama. His mosque has done extensive interfaith and community outreach, a sign of the center's inclusive and temperate nature, supporters say.

During the last week, Qazwini has drawn a wide range of supporters: government officials, religious leaders and law enforcement. On Thursday and Friday, they plan to hold public interfaith rallies in support of the center and against Jones.

At 10:30 a.m. Friday, interfaith clergy will hold a press conference at the Islamic Center concerning Jones' unwelcome appearance. City and religious leaders are asking anyone who wants to demonstrate against Jones to gather at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center between 4-7 p.m. Friday.

Sources:

Niraj Warikoo, "Metro interfaith leaders to unite against Quran-burning pastor" Detroit Free Press April 20, 2011

J. Patrick Pepper, "Terry Jones' planned visit sparks fears of violence, hopes for solidarity" Dearborn Press & Guide April 19, 2011