Pastor Terry Jones Connected To Anti-American Violence In Libya
Pastor Terry Jones is once again instigating anti-American violence with his virulent attacks on Islam, with the Florida pastor playing a role in recent attacks against American diplomats in Libya.
The US ambassador to Libya was killed in rioting Tuesday along with three other American diplomats after crowds angry over an anti-Islamic film promoted by Gainesville pastor Terry Jones, Post Newsweek reported. Jones has been credited with inciting other violence in the past, when his Quran burning event let to rioting in Afghanistan and Pakistan that caused days of unrest and as many as 20 deaths.
The attack in Libya is believed to be carried out by Ansar al-Sharia, an al Qaeda-style Sunni Islamist group active in Benghazi, Libyan officials told Post Newsweek. The officials said the killing of the American diplomats might have actually not been connected to the violence stirred up by pastor Terry Jones, but instead the terrorist group used the rioting as a cover to carry out their attack.
The film, created by California filmmaker Sam Bacile, is titled Innocence of Muslims. Conservative Muslims said the film deingrates Islam and its holiest prophet, Muhammad. A YouTube clip of the movie showed Muhammad — who Muslims believe must not be depicted — having an apparent sexual act with a woman.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the attacks, but added that the actions of the filmmakers of Innocence of Muslims or Pastor Terry Jones cannot be blamed, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Clinton went on to say that “inflammatory material posted on the Internet” is not a justification for “violent acts of this kind.”
“The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others,” Clinton said. “Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.”
Pastor Terry Jones showed the trailer for the film on what he dubbed, “International Judge Mohammad Day.” Jones said he is not sorry for the attack.
“The fact that angry protesters climbed the wall at the US Embassy in Cairo, ripped down the American flag and tore it apart further indicates the lack of respect that Islam has for any other religion, any other flag, any freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of religion,” Pastor Terry Jones said Tuesday in a statement released before the killings in Benghazi were confirmed. “It further illustrates that they have no tolerance for anything outside of Muhammad.”
