Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The Latest from the "Really Bad Idea" File

Can't see why this might be a problem, can you?

A Detroit prosecutor has filed a petition in district court to stop a Florida fundamentalist Christian preacher, who recently caused riots in Afghanistan after he burned a Koran, from holding a rally outside a large Michigan mosque.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the threat of violence was too great to allow Terry Jones to hold the planned gathering on Friday near the Islamic Center of America -- the largest U.S. mosque -- in the heavily Muslim Detroit suburb of Dearborn.

A hearing on Worthy's bid to block Jones and his supporters from holding the rally at the mosque will be held on Thursday in a Dearborn court. The petition is dated April 15.

Prosecutors argue that the planned gathering by Jones could incite a riot, citing hundreds of email death threats against the preacher.

Oh, and just so everyone knows, Jones comes in peace - but he's made it clear that he and his followers will be armed.

"We have made it very clear that we are coming there with very, very peaceful intentions," Jones told the television station. "We will be armed. We do have concealed weapons permits."

Worthy wants the gathering to be held in one of Dearborn's "free speech zones" away from the mosque - but even at that, this sounds like it's going to be a huge problem.

Pray that no one gets hurt - here or elsewhere - over this guy's antics.

UPDATE 4/20: Dearborn says "no thanks".

Dearborn has denied a permit for Quran-burning Pastor Terry Jones' planned protest outside the Islamic Center of America.

City spokeswoman Mary Laundroche said it's possible that Jones could be arrested if he carries through with the protest. He's due in 19th District Court in Dearborn on Thursday to answer prosecutors' claims that his demonstration could cause a riot and demands he post a "peace bond" to cover police costs.

Dearborn officials said Jones can still demonstrate at one of two "free speech zones," including City Hall. Before denying the permit, city officials expressed concern about public safety, traffic and disruptions to nearby churches.

Jones isn't likely to relent. He's said for weeks that he plans to demonstrate outside the Ford Road mosque with or without a permit. Earlier today, Jones said the mosque is the ideal site for his protest against "radical Islam" and Sharia, or Islamic, law.

He says he won't burn a Quran this time. Um, good. I would hope that if he does show, people just ignore him. An arrest just brings him publicity, and that is what this is all about. Don't feed his ego.