Koran burnings -- by Jones or others -- raise fears of dire consequences

“This attention will most likely have political and national security implications which could involve the boycott of American goods and services, violent demonstrations within the United States and abroad, threats and/or acts of violence from terrorist organizations and/or lone extremist actors, and further segregation between the Muslim and non-Muslim American communities.”

The FBI bulletin cites the recent case of Muslim convert Zachary Chesser, who made death threats against the creators of “South Park” after the program mocked the Prophet Muhammad and notes that INSPIRE mentioned that Molly Norris, a cartoonist who created “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day” should be targeted for killings.

There have been other instances. Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh was assassinated in 2004 after he made a controversial film about women living in Islamic countries. Here in the United States, the woman dubbed “Jihad Jane” was part of an alleged conspiracy to kill Lars Vilks, a Swedish artist who drew the Prophet Mohammed with the body of a dog.

Matthew Harwood writes that the FBI is not alone, and that other public and private security organizations worldwide have issued security warnings in anticipation of a Koran-burning ceremony organized by a fringe evangelical preacher Jones.

The U.S. State Department as well as Interpol both issued advisories fearing Jones’s actions will unleash violent reprisals across the world. The State Department’s travel advisory cautions that U.S. citizens are endangered by anti-American demonstrations in reaction to the event. “Demonstrations, some violent, have already taken place in several countries, including Afghanistan and Indonesia, in response to media reports of the church’s plans,” according to the advisory. “The potential for further protests and demonstrations, some of which may turn violent, remains high.”

INTERPOL also issued a global alert to its 188 member countries stating “that if the proposed Koran burning by a pastor in the U.S. goes ahead as planned, there is a strong likelihood that violent attacks on innocent people would follow.”

INTERPOL secretary General Ronald K. Noble warned “Although there are currently no specific details as to what forms of terror attacks would follow, what is clear is if the Koran burning goes ahead as planned, there will be tragic consequences, ones which may well claim the lives of many innocent people.”

The Christian Security Network, a security consulting organization for Christian groups and houses of worship, has also issued a warning to its network of churches. “Radical extremism on any side is dangerous, especially when you are doing it in the name of religion…” the CSN awareness alert states. “But there have already been documented threats against Christian churches by Muslim extremists and you cannot assume that because this particular incident is taking place in Florida that it will be limited to that geographic area.”

Executive Director Jeff Hawkins told Security Management’s Harwood that he fears that an Islamic radical could target any Christian church rather than Pastor Jones’s Dove World Outreach Center.

While his awareness alert prayed for peace to prevail, Hawkins says his members “have to prepare for the worst.”

U.S. political and military leaders joined in criticizing to Koran burning plan. The State Department described it as “un-American.” State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley called the plan “inflammatory” at a briefing Tuesday and said it would put U.S. troops and interest around the world at risk, echoing a concern expressed by the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. “It doesn’t represent the vast majority of American views,” Crowley said.

Secretary of State Clinton also condemned the church’s plans during her remarks at a State Department dinner she hosted in observance of Iftar, the breaking of the daily fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

“I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths,” Clinton said.

Gen. David Petraeus, head of Multinational Forces in Afghanistan, repeated his warning Tuesday that any plans to burn the Muslim holy book — considered a major offense in the Islamic community — would jeopardize U.S. military efforts.

Petraeus said that even rumors of the possibility the church would hold a Koran burning touched off protests in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia. “Images of the burning of a Koran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan — and around the world — to inflame public opinion and incite violence,” Petraeus said. “Were the actual burning to take place, the safety of our soldiers and civilians would be put in jeopardy and accomplishment of the mission would be made more difficult.”