Indonesian muslims denounce Koran-burning protest

Thousands of Indonesian muslims rallied outside the US Embassy in Jakarta today to denounce a US church’s plan to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by burning copies of the Koran.

The Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville, Florida, said it will burn the Islamic holy book on Wednesday, the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Local officials have denied a permit for the bonfire on the church’s grounds, but the centre – which made headlines last year by distributing T-shirts that said “Islam is of the Devil” – insists it will go ahead with the plan.

About 3,000 members of a hard-line Islamic group marched to the US Embassy in Jakarta waving banners and posters condemning the plan.

The group organised similar rallies in five other cities across Indonesia, the world’s largest muslim nation.

Religious leaders in Indonesia have condemned the plan and called on the US government to use its influence to get the fire cancelled.