LAHORE: The Association of Pakistani Lawyers (APL) in United Kingdom condemned the planned burning of hundreds of copies of the holy Quran on the anniversary of September 11 attacks in the US.

In a press release issued by the association on Wednesday, which groups of lawyers, solicitors, barristers, and judges of Pakistani origin termed a conspiracy event planned by Terry Jones and his team at the “Dove World Outreach Centre” where they intend to burn copies of the holy Quran on September 11 to coincide with the anniversary of World Trade Centre attacks. Saying that the act would hurt the feelings of over a billion Muslims around the world, APL demanded the US administration to take responsibility for this and asked President Barack Obama to take stern action against those organising the event, which it said was contrary to public order and the national interests of the US and would hamper relations with the Islamic world.

The association urged the planners of the event to read the holy Quran instead of burning it. It said that the book had for centuries inspired and guided people and it gives the true message of tolerance and social welfare. Acknowledging that there could be difference of opinion in the interpretation of religious verses, APL said divine message could not be wrong or against humanity. It said that opposition to the Ground Zero mosque and planned burning of the holy Quran come at a time when Muslims were trying hard to bridge differences with other communities, which had developed after 9/11. The press release said that the Muslims were being victimised through heavy-handed laws and such actions, which smack of intolerance, would further alienate them.

The association said that the burning of the holy Quran and other similar actions were unacceptable and counterproductive and would fuel intolerance at a time when US and British forces were fighting radical outfits in Muslim states. It said that this one episode of intolerance would aid the philosophy of radical outfits.

APL also asked the Organisation of Islamic Countries to take notice of the planned event and use diplomatic pressure to stop it from going forward. It asked the organisation to form a body to bridge gap with the West. It said if a “give and take” policy were not adopted, a chain of similar incidences of intolerance would follow. These actions would be detrimental to forging world unity, the press release read.