Global protest against Quran desecration on 27th: Qazi

ISLAMABAD: Islamic groups in at least five countries in Asia, the Middle East and Europe will hold rallies on May 27 to protest the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran at the US prison in Guantanamo Bay, Qazi Hussain Ahmed said on Sunday.

Qazi, president of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, said demonstrations would be held in Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia, Britain and Turkey. Islamic groups in several other countries have also agreed to hold similar rallies, he said. “The American soldiers are known for disrespect to other religions. They do not take care of the sanctity of other religions,” Qazi said.

The MMA made unexpected gains in parliamentary elections in 2002 on a platform mainly of opposition to the US-led war against terrorism and support for the Taliban militia.

Qazi’s comments came a day after Pakistan’s President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, both allies of Washington, demanded a probe and “exemplary punishment” for those behind the reported desecration of the Holy Quran at the US detention facility in Cuba.

Muslims were outraged last week following a report in Newsweek magazine that interrogators at Guantanamo Bay placed copies of the Holy Quran in washrooms to unsettle terror suspects, and flushed one down the toilet. On Friday, MMA held peaceful rallies across Pakistan. In neighbouring Afghanistan, however,15 people were killed and scores were injured in violent protests. ap

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