UN condemns Quran protest killings

[TruthSeeker]

UN condemns Afghan Quran protest killings

Security Council denounces deaths of UN staff and demonstrators in a violent protest over Quran burning.

Last Modified: 01 Apr 2011 15:53

Afghan fighters allegedly used protests against a Quran burning incident as cover for an attack on the UN [Reuters]

United Nations officials have condemned the killings of the organisation's staff during a protest over the burning of the Quran by a US preacher.

Nestor Osorio, UN Security Council president, spoke on behalf of the 15-nation body in denouncing the deaths and expressing condolences to families of the victims.

"The members of the Security Council condemned all incitement to and acts of violence," said Osorio on Saturday.

"They called on the government of Afghanistan to bring those responsible to justice and take all possible steps, with the assistance of the International Security Assistance Force, as appropriate, to protect UN personnel and premises.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their support for the people and the Government of Afghanistan, their support for the crucial work that the United Nations is doing in partnership with the Government for the benefit of all Afghans, and the Council’s commitment to a secure and stable Afghanistan."

Afghan officials said at least 11 people were killed, including seven UN staff, at a United Nations operational centre in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. A UN official said that some of the attackers were killed by security guards.

Mission evacuated

The attack appears to be the deadliest against the UN in the country since the 2001 invasion.

Demonstrators stormed the UN office on Friday, opening fire on guards and lighting fires inside the compound after gathering to protest over reports that an evangelical pastor last month burned a copy of the Muslim holy book in Florida.

In a statement, the UN said three civilian workers and four security personnel were killed - none of which were from Afghanistan. A UN official also told the Associated Press news agency that seven workers and four Afghan protesters have been killed. An estimated 20 other demonstrators were injured.

The mission at Mazar-i-Sharif is now being evacuated.

Afghan police earlier put the death toll at eight UN workers and four Afghan protesters. Two of the UN staff members were beheaded, according to police, though details of the killings are unclear.

Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reported from Kabul that people converged outside the UN mission soon after the midday prayers.

The mission is one of the backbones of UN operations in the country, he said. Some of the protesters were armed with knives, and the chief of the mission was badly injured in the attack.

"The protests degenerated into a very violent attack," he explained.

Protests 'gave cover'

Ata Mohammad Noor, the governor of Northern Balkh province, said insurgents used the protests as cover to attack the UN office.

Terry Jones' "Judge the Quran day" drew
widespread international condemnation

"The insurgents have taken advantage of the situation to attack the United Nations compound," Noor said.

Noor said Nepalese Gurkha guards were among those killed. He said the guards worked for a private security firm.

The UN has not yet announced the nationalities of those killed. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the violence, saying it was the first step in a campaign against the upcoming presidential elections.

Afghan officials said about 2,000 people peacefully gathered outside the UN office, until some members of the crowd grabbed weapons from the UN guards, opened fire on the police and stormed the building.

Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, spoke with Al Jazeera from New York.

Ban is seeking more information on the attack, and considers it "a cowardly attack which no circumstances could justify," Haq said on Friday.

Stephane de Mastura, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), was travelling to Mazar-i-Sharif on Friday to investigate what had happened, he added.

UN assistance to Afghan people

The UN staff in Mazar-i-Sharif works in a range of areas, including electoral support, political advice, humanitarian aid, reconstruction and development.

"All of this is designed to provide as much assistance as possible to the Afghan people, which is what makes it so unjustified that this office was attacked," the spokesperson said.

Terry Jones, an American pastor, created a storm of controversy after he announced that he would burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks last year. Under pressure from political leaders, Jones "suspended" the event.

However, on March 20, Jones oversaw the burning of a copy of the Muslim holy book by another pastor, Wayne Sapp.

The worst previous attack on UN workers in Afghanistan was an insurgent assault on a guesthouse in October 2009. Five UN staffers were killed and nine others wounded.

UN staff have been targeted in other countries, including a bomb attack on the UN compound in Algiers in December 2007 which left 17 dead.

The bombing of a hotel in Baghdad in August 2003 where the UN mission had its headquarters took the lives of at least 22 people, including UN special envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

UN condemns Afghan Quran protest killings - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English

Another "event" to contemplate brought to us by devoted followers of the "religion of peace".

 

[Huan]

Terry Jones might get sued for liability.

 

[Unbeliever]

Terry Jones might get sued for liability.

I hope you aren't serious. That would be absurd.

 

[T-Rex]

UN condemns Afghan Quran protest killings

Security Council denounces deaths of UN staff and demonstrators in a violent protest over Quran burning.

Last Modified: 01 Apr 2011 15:53

Afghan fighters allegedly used protests against a Quran burning incident as cover for an attack on the UN [Reuters]

United Nations officials have condemned the killings of the organisation's staff during a protest over the burning of the Quran by a US preacher.

Nestor Osorio, UN Security Council president, spoke on behalf of the 15-nation body in denouncing the deaths and expressing condolences to families of the victims.

"The members of the Security Council condemned all incitement to and acts of violence," said Osorio on Saturday.

"They called on the government of Afghanistan to bring those responsible to justice and take all possible steps, with the assistance of the International Security Assistance Force, as appropriate, to protect UN personnel and premises.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their support for the people and the Government of Afghanistan, their support for the crucial work that the United Nations is doing in partnership with the Government for the benefit of all Afghans, and the Council’s commitment to a secure and stable Afghanistan."

Afghan officials said at least 11 people were killed, including seven UN staff, at a United Nations operational centre in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. A UN official said that some of the attackers were killed by security guards.

Mission evacuated

The attack appears to be the deadliest against the UN in the country since the 2001 invasion.

Demonstrators stormed the UN office on Friday, opening fire on guards and lighting fires inside the compound after gathering to protest over reports that an evangelical pastor last month burned a copy of the Muslim holy book in Florida.

In a statement, the UN said three civilian workers and four security personnel were killed - none of which were from Afghanistan. A UN official also told the Associated Press news agency that seven workers and four Afghan protesters have been killed. An estimated 20 other demonstrators were injured.

The mission at Mazar-i-Sharif is now being evacuated.

Afghan police earlier put the death toll at eight UN workers and four Afghan protesters. Two of the UN staff members were beheaded, according to police, though details of the killings are unclear.

Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reported from Kabul that people converged outside the UN mission soon after the midday prayers.

The mission is one of the backbones of UN operations in the country, he said. Some of the protesters were armed with knives, and the chief of the mission was badly injured in the attack.

"The protests degenerated into a very violent attack," he explained.

Protests 'gave cover'

Ata Mohammad Noor, the governor of Northern Balkh province, said insurgents used the protests as cover to attack the UN office.

Terry Jones' "Judge the Quran day" drew
widespread international condemnation

"The insurgents have taken advantage of the situation to attack the United Nations compound," Noor said.

Noor said Nepalese Gurkha guards were among those killed. He said the guards worked for a private security firm.

The UN has not yet announced the nationalities of those killed. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the violence, saying it was the first step in a campaign against the upcoming presidential elections.

Afghan officials said about 2,000 people peacefully gathered outside the UN office, until some members of the crowd grabbed weapons from the UN guards, opened fire on the police and stormed the building.

Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, spoke with Al Jazeera from New York.

Ban is seeking more information on the attack, and considers it "a cowardly attack which no circumstances could justify," Haq said on Friday.

Stephane de Mastura, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), was travelling to Mazar-i-Sharif on Friday to investigate what had happened, he added.

UN assistance to Afghan people

The UN staff in Mazar-i-Sharif works in a range of areas, including electoral support, political advice, humanitarian aid, reconstruction and development.

"All of this is designed to provide as much assistance as possible to the Afghan people, which is what makes it so unjustified that this office was attacked," the spokesperson said.

Terry Jones, an American pastor, created a storm of controversy after he announced that he would burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks last year. Under pressure from political leaders, Jones "suspended" the event.

However, on March 20, Jones oversaw the burning of a copy of the Muslim holy book by another pastor, Wayne Sapp.

The worst previous attack on UN workers in Afghanistan was an insurgent assault on a guesthouse in October 2009. Five UN staffers were killed and nine others wounded.

UN staff have been targeted in other countries, including a bomb attack on the UN compound in Algiers in December 2007 which left 17 dead.

The bombing of a hotel in Baghdad in August 2003 where the UN mission had its headquarters took the lives of at least 22 people, including UN special envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

UN condemns Afghan Quran protest killings - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English

Another "event" to contemplate brought to us by devoted followers of the "religion of peace".

Burning Bibles would be considered as spreading hatred but burning Qur'an is considered as progressive by the hypocrites! Let somebody try burning the Bibles in a Muslim country and you'll see condemnation coming from the western capitals and of course, the western media won't wait to scream about the hatred of the Muslim Jihadis. But they are nowhere to be seen when the Qur'an is being burnt by the Christian priests. This shows, once more, who are the real hate-mongers.

 

[AUz]

Why didn't UN condemn the event of Quran burning?

 

[T-Rex]

Why didn't UN condemn the event of Quran burning?

It is because the UN has been designed to be in the pocket of the US and its allies. It is a one-eyed devil wearing the mask of a savior.

 

[muse]

For a while now we are hearing from especially the US that the Afghans, particularly in the North of the country are not content about being connected to the Larger Islamic world and that of course to the degree there is a sentiment against the coalition of the willing and it's UN enabler, it must be the work of a "neighbor" (Pakistan, just in case some of readers are US types) -- now that there has been reaction in the North and the South, perhaps The US policy makers and opinion makers may once again revisit the notion of "safe havens" and "the double dealing neighbor"

 

[President Camacho]

Why didn't UN condemn the event of Quran burning?

Two reasons:

1. UN's condemnation would have had counter-effects in highlighting the incident leading to numerous (similar) absurd reactions around the world. Downplaying the incident was the best approach, though a lot of media houses deliberately failed to recognize it.

2. What Terry Jones did was not unlawful per the law of the land.

Those who are saying the UN did not condemn it because of the US pressure are wrong because this act has injured the image of the US worldwide and subsequently created hurdles in its efforts to keep things down in Afghanistan (Remember Karzai's condemnation too fueled this fire).

 

[silko]

2. What Terry Jones did was not unlawful per the law of the land.

but he knew that some muslims would use violence and maybe kill innocents, isn't that a crime?

he knew people is going to get killed but still does it!

 

[BATMAN]

UN has turned majority Pashtoons to slaves of ruling northern alliance warlords.
Last ten years UN have allowed every crime known to humanity against Pashtoons.
Injustice against Pashtoons shall stop, other wise Pashtoons will continue to take their anger out by one way or another.
Warlords of northern alliance has to go along with their patrons.

 

[BATMAN]

but he knew that some muslims would use violence and maybe kill innocents, isn't that a crime?

he knew people is going to get killed but still does it!

You are absolutely right, this is why injustice and corruption are termed as biggest sin.

Those are just some angry people, living in war zone, since last 10 years.

Can happen any where any time...

In many states Muslims are being targeted regularly but UN is not bothered.
In Kashmir genocide is on-going as we speak but no one is bothered to condemn it because media is not allowed to write deaths of Muslims under oppressive states.

 

[Jango]

UN is also a very biased organization.....obama sab ka mama has said that the afghan protests are outrageous.....mr obama.....they are outrageous to you because we have a religion while you dont.

 

[Ahmad]

UN has turned majority Pashtoons to slaves of ruling northern alliance warlords.
Last ten years UN have allowed every crime known to humanity against Pashtoons.
Injustice against Pashtoons shall stop, other wise Pashtoons will continue to take their anger out by one way or another.
Warlords of northern alliance has to go along with their patrons.

you are deliberately spreading mis information, werent you the same guy who claimed that indians genetically transforemed afghan kids to become terrorits(something like that which i dont remember what exactly it was, perhaps indian members might remember it). the so called NA is largely in oppostion, they are not in the gov, nobody is having cruelty against the pashtoons, the pashtons are having the largest share of the gov followed by other ethnicities. If the pashtoons are unhappy it might be because they have lost their 100% monopoly in the gov. The NA is as disgusting as the the Taliban and others, but they at least now has stopped fighting and killing the people unlike the taliban. People like you dont care about pashtoons or afghans, you simply want to score a point against the US using our blood and suffering. If you are talkinga bout injustice, then the non pashtoons have been even today a subject of injustice in the country.

 

[Ahmad]

People do have every right to protest against this bigotry of burning the Quran in the US, as a matter of fact the protest was largely peaceful and it turned ugly as the Taliban were in disguise among the protesters and carry out the brutality. This brutality against the UN will have bad effects on its activities in the country as people need the UN's projects the most, in a country where infrastructure and economy is severly damaged, the UN and others play a vital role in people's life.

 

[Spring Onion]

you are deliberately spreading mis information, werent you the same guy who claimed that indians genetically transforemed afghan kids to become terrorits(something like that which i dont remember what exactly it was, perhaps indian members might remember it). the so called NA is largely in oppostion, they are not in the gov, nobody is having cruelty against the pashtoons, the pashtons are having the largest share of the gov followed by other ethnicities. If the pashtoons are unhappy it might be because they have lost their 100% monopoly in the gov. The NA is as disgusting as the the Taliban and others, but they at least now has stopped fighting and killing the people unlike the taliban. People like you dont care about pashtoons or afghans, you simply want to score a point against the US using our blood and suffering. If you are talkinga bout injustice, then the non pashtoons have been even today a subject of injustice in the country.

Ahmad lets be fair and accept the fact that NA has stopped fighting (but not the killings) because they are in Govt and allied with US for time being. the day they are kicked out you will see the same criminal warlords back on killing spree. They are no better than the taliban.


anyway coming back to the topic. UN condemned the protests whereas it has turned a blind eye towards instigators of these protests that is the moron pastor.