Today's Headlines
- Lessons and Implications of the Confirmation of Charges Against Kenya's 'Ocampo Four'
- Finance Minister Quits Over ICC Charges
- Shortage of HIV Test Kits Raises Concerns
- Living On the Edge in Turkana Region
- Ali Breaks Silence, Describes Delight At Acquittal
- Uhuru, Ruto Eligible for Presidency - CIC
- Tea Sector Posts Record Earnings in 2011
- Resettle IDPs, Urges Annan
- Uhuru, Muthaura Have Done the Right Thing
- All Displaced People Should Return Home
- Concern Raised As Parents Shun Schools in Poll Violence Hotspots
- Ruling On IEBC Hiring in February
- Country Working Towards Conditions Needed for Direct Flights to U.S.
- How ICC Claimed Kibaki's Lieutenants
- Geothermal Project to Receive Sh10 Billion Funding Boost
- Five Million to Get IDs Before Elections
- Speed Up Building Port
- Uhuru and Muthaura Did Well to Quit Posts
- A Full Plate Awaits Githae
- Clashes Continue in Moyale
- Baraza Case to Be Heard Monday
- Two Firms in Joint Venture to Drill for Oil Near Lodwar
- Exit Uhuru, Muthaura
- ICC Charges Hound Uhuru Out of Treasury
- Consumers Grow Despite Inflation
- Poor Relations Between Banks Blamed for Cash Shortages
- Fish Prices Up As Vegetable Supply Dwindles
- Consumers to Pay More for Milk and Bread As Prices Rise
- Kibaki Tasks Ex-Dar CJ to Lead Probe in Kenya
- Mombasa Port Cargo Congestion Forces Three-Month Fees Waiver
8 September 2010
editorial
Nairobi — The threat by the pastor of a small evangelical church to burn copies of the Qur'an publicly to mark the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack in the United States which killed more than 3,000 people, could only have been conceptualised by a particularly intolerant religious bigot with a ravenous appetite for publicity.
It is unfathomable that a religious leader can plan to set ablaze the holy book of a major world religion to make a point that quite defies reason or logic.
It is not quite clear what that symbolic gesture is supposed to achieve, but burning the Qur'an is certainly going to send the wrong message to "the radical element of Islam".
The only possible result will be greater radicalisation of even moderate Muslims, and greater hatred of the United States. The other result could conceivably be that the soft targets which include Kenya could be targeted by terrorists for reprisals against American interests. It has happened before, with enormous loss of innocent lives.
So, although what happens in a small church in Florida may not have a direct bearing on us, we should protest in the strongest terms at this planned sacrilege.
