2012 Afghanistan Quran burning protests: Difference between revisions
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On 22 February 2012, [[International Security Assistance Force]] troops at [[Bagram Airfield]] were alleged to have set fire to copies of the [[Quran]]. [[John R. Allen]], the commander of the ISAF, said the copies were taken from the library at the [[Parwan Detention Facility]]. Officials stated the books were removed and destroyed due to the presence of "extremist inscriptions" on the materials, furthering noting "an appearance that these documents were being used to facilitate extremist communications."<ref>http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-25/asia/world_asia_afghanistan-burned-qurans_1_qurans-protests-afghan-police?_s=PM:ASIA</ref> Afghan garbage collectors working at the base reported finding charred copies of the book.<ref>http://www.vancouversun.com/news/American+officers+killed+Afghan+Interior+Ministry+following+burning/6210415/story.html</ref> |
On 22 February 2012, [[International Security Assistance Force]] troops at [[Bagram Airfield]] were alleged to have set fire to copies of the [[Quran]]. [[John R. Allen]], the commander of the ISAF, said the copies were taken from the library at the [[Parwan Detention Facility]]. Officials stated the books were removed and destroyed due to the presence of "extremist inscriptions" on the materials, furthering noting "an appearance that these documents were being used to facilitate extremist communications."<ref>http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-25/asia/world_asia_afghanistan-burned-qurans_1_qurans-protests-afghan-police?_s=PM:ASIA</ref> Afghan garbage collectors working at the base reported finding charred copies of the book.<ref>http://www.vancouversun.com/news/American+officers+killed+Afghan+Interior+Ministry+following+burning/6210415/story.html</ref> |
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Protestors interviewed in [[Kabul]] said that |
Protestors interviewed in [[Kabul]] said that this incident was merely the latest in a long string of offenses against the Afghan people and culture. Maruf Hotak, one of the protestors, said "This is not just about dishonoring the Koran, it is about disrespecting our dead and [[Civilian casualties in the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|killing our children]]. ... They always admit their mistakes ... They burn our Koran and then they apologize. You can’t just disrespect our holy book and kill our innocent children and make a small apology."<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|title=Koran burning at U.S. Base Incites Afghans for 2nd Day | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/world/asia/koran-burning-in-afghanistan-prompts-second-day-of-protests.html | author=Alissa J. Rubin | newspaper=The New York Times | date=22 February 2012 | accessdate=27 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="greenwald">{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/02/26/the_causes_of_the_protests_in_afghanistan/singleton/|title=The causes of the protests in Afghanistan|author=[[Glenn Greenwald]]|publisher=[[Salon.com]]|date=26 February 2012|accessdate=27 February 2012}}</ref> |
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== Protests == |
== Protests == |
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Revision as of 13:46, 27 February 2012
| 2012 Afghanistan Quran burning protests | |
|---|---|
| Part of War in Afghanistan | |
 Bagram Airfield, where the Quran burnings took place. | |
| Date | 22 February 2012[1] – present |
| Location | 30°00′N 65°00′E / 30.000°N 65.000°E |
| Caused by | Quran desecration |
| Methods | Demonstrations, riots and assassinations |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Casualties and losses | |
| Deaths: 52[2] Injures: At least 200[3] | |
The 2012 Afghanistan Quran burning protests were caused by the burning of copies of the Muslim holy book at the ISAF military base in Bagram. The resulting, often violent, protests have caused at least 30 deaths including 4 U.S. soldiers and over 200 people were injured in protests across the country.
Background
On 22 February 2012, International Security Assistance Force troops at Bagram Airfield were alleged to have set fire to copies of the Quran. John R. Allen, the commander of the ISAF, said the copies were taken from the library at the Parwan Detention Facility. Officials stated the books were removed and destroyed due to the presence of "extremist inscriptions" on the materials, furthering noting "an appearance that these documents were being used to facilitate extremist communications."[4] Afghan garbage collectors working at the base reported finding charred copies of the book.[5]
Protestors interviewed in Kabul said that this incident was merely the latest in a long string of offenses against the Afghan people and culture. Maruf Hotak, one of the protestors, said "This is not just about dishonoring the Koran, it is about disrespecting our dead and killing our children. ... They always admit their mistakes ... They burn our Koran and then they apologize. You can’t just disrespect our holy book and kill our innocent children and make a small apology."[6][7]
Protests
Despite apologies from the ISAF commander and the president of the United States, demonstrators attacked French, Norwegian and U.S. bases, as thousands more besieged ISAF bases at Mihtarlam and Kapisa.[8]
After three days of protest, 23 people were reported killed, including 4 U.S. soldiers,[9] two of which resulted after members of ANSF turned their weapons on them, and over 55 people have been wounded.[10] On 25 February, the Taliban claimed responsibility of the deaths of four "high ranking" American officials inside the Interior Ministry in Kabul saying one of its operatives[11] was assisted to get into the ISAF and Afghan translators-only area,[citation needed] though other reports claimed there were only two American deaths.[12] An investigation was to be carried out without the involvement of any Afghans.[citation needed] ISAF commander John R. Allen called the shooting of two senior officers at the Ministry of Interior "cowardly."[13]
Protests on 26 February turned violent in northern Kunduz Province, with one protester dead, seven U.S. military personnel reported injured by a grenade and 16 other protesters injured in an attack on the police chief's office with grenades, pistols, knives, sticks, and stones.[14]
On the morning of 27 February, a suicide car bomber blew up his car at the entrance to Jalalabad airport in an attack that left nine people dead and wounded 12 others. Reuters reported that the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack as "revenge" for the desecrations of Quran.[15]
Reactions
- Domestic
Afghanistan
- President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai called for "dialogue and calm" in response to the Quran burnings and subsequent protests.[16] Speaking at an American Army base where two US soldiers were killed in protests, Sher Mohammad Karimi, the Chief of Army Staff for the Afghan National Army, applauded NATO soldiers, thanking them for their "sacrifices for humanity, not just the Afghan people."[17]
- Aimal Faizi, Karzai's spokesperson, said "The sooner you turn over the Bagram prison to Afghan authorities the sooner we will avoid such incidents".[6]
- Abdul Sattar Khawasi, a member of parliament for Parwan province, said "Americans are invaders, and jihad against Americans is an obligation". He called on mullahs and religious leaders to "to urge the people from the pulpit to wage jihad against Americans", along with about 20 other members of parliament.[6]
- Supranational bodies
NATO – ISAF commander John R. Allen said: "When we learned of these actions [troops burning the Quran], we immediately intervened and stopped them. The materials recovered will be properly handled by [the] appropriate religious authorities...We are thoroughly investigating the incident and we are taking steps to ensure this does not ever happen again. I assure you – I promise you – this was not intentional in any way."[18]
- On 24 February, the German Army announced that 50 soldiers will leave a military base in Taloqan after a group of peaceful protesters gathered outside the base.[19]
- States
United Kingdom – On 25 February, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said all civilian employees would be temporarily withdrawn from Afghanistan.[13]
Israel – President Shimon Peres said he is terribly sorry for what happened, but mentioned that Jews were not involved in the process.[13]
United States – On 23 February, President Obama apologised to Afghan President Hamid Karzai over the mishandling of copies of the Quran to help stem the violent demonstrations.[20]
- During campaigning for the Republican nomination for the presidential election, prospective candidate Newt Gingrich called Obama's apology to Karzai "astonishing."[8]
- Others
The Taliban remarked on the situation by stating that:
"You should bring the invading forces military bases under your brave attack, their military convoys, kill them, capture them, beat them, and teach them a lesson that they will never again dare to insult the Holy Koran."[21]
See also
References
- ^ "9 killed in Quran burning protests in Afghanistan". China Daily. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/26/us-afghanistan-shooting-suspect-idUSL4E8DQ03N20120226
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9107098/Afghan-violence-France-and-Germany-withdraw-civilian-staff.html
- ^ http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-25/asia/world_asia_afghanistan-burned-qurans_1_qurans-protests-afghan-police?_s=PM:ASIA
- ^ http://www.vancouversun.com/news/American+officers+killed+Afghan+Interior+Ministry+following+burning/6210415/story.html
- ^ a b c Alissa J. Rubin (22 February 2012). "Koran burning at U.S. Base Incites Afghans for 2nd Day". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
- ^ Glenn Greenwald (26 February 2012). "The causes of the protests in Afghanistan". Salon.com. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
- ^ a b Shahid, Aliyah (24 February 2012). "Newt Gingrich rips President Obama's apology to Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai over Koran burnings Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election-2012/newt-gingrich-rips-president-obama-apology-afghanistan-hamid-karzai-koran-burnings-article-1.1027945#ixzz1nSLHBgQ3". New York Daily News. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
{{cite news}}: External link in|title= - ^ Twelve killed in protests across Afghanistan
- ^ Obama forced to apologise to Karzai for Koran burnings in Afghanistan
- ^ Riechmann, Deb (26 February 2012). "Afghan protesters angry over Quran burnings attack US base with grenades". Daily Reporter. The Associated Press. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ Nick Paton Walsh; Masoud Popalzai (25 February 2012). "2 American officers killed in Afghan ministry". CNN. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "Britain withdraws civilians from Afghanistan". Kuwait News Agency. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ Nick Paton Walsh; Masoud Popalzai (26 February 2012). "U.S. service members wounded in protest over burned Qurans". CNN. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ "Taliban suicide bombing rocks airport in Afghanistan". Russia Today. 2012-27-02. Retrieved 2012-27-02.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ VOA News (25 February 2012). "NATO Recalls Staff from Afghan Ministries After Shooting". Voice of America. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ Nick Paton Walsh; Masoud Popalzai (24 February 2012). "Deadly violence as commander warns against 'vengeance'". CNN. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ http://www.nationalturk.com/en/koran-burning-by-us-troops-in-afghanistan-provokes-outrage-and-revolts-16586
- ^ Agence France-Presse (24 February 2012). "German army pulls out of Afghan base over Qur'an unrest". The Province.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Obama apologizes for Koran burning in Afghanistan
- ^ http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=6196816&sponsor=
