MAS Freedom Moves to Stop Quran Burning: Group Still Has No Fire Permit

Local Muslim Community and City Residents Promote Unity and Community Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On September 7th, a MAS Freedom team traveled to Gainesville, Florida in support of the Gainesville community positively responding to the proposed Sept. 11th burning of the Qur'an. Muslim American Society Freedom (MASF) is the civil and human rights advocacy component of the Muslim American Society (MAS), America's largest grassroots Muslim organization. MAS Freedom has requested a local law firm to seek to have the proposed Qur'an burning activities of Rev. Terry Jones and his small fringe religious group stopped because they have not obtained a fire permit as required by city law.

According to fire chief Gene Prince, "under the city's fire prevention ordinance, an open burning of books is not allowed." Gainesville code 10-63, states a "general prohibition on outdoor burning and open burning." Section 6 specifically outlaws the burning of "Newspapers" and section 7 outlaws the burning "corrugated cardboard, container board, and office paper."

The local Gainesville Muslim community, in conjunction with other local faith and civic community leaders, has prepared a positive proactive response to the proposed Sept. 11th burning of the Qur'an by Rev. Jones and his followers. The Muslim community of Gainesville is sponsoring an interfaith community project called "The Gainesville Initiative."  A representative of the initiative stated that "we will respond to Rev. Jones' hatred and intolerance by providing community programs and services that foster good will and public service." Through the Gainesville initiative, the local Muslim community has planned community events that focus on outreach and community service, as well as religious tolerance and diversity.

Some of the events include interfaith services, blood drives, feeding needy families, and a full day of community events on Sept. 11th at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza in downtown Gainesville. A complete list of the Gainesville initiative events can be found on masfreedom.org. Mahdi Bray, executive director of MAS Freedom stated, "The current climate of Islamophobia in our nation certainly has emboldened people like Rev. Jones and those of his ilk. The classic definition of a bigot is one who is intolerant of another based on race, political views, or religion. Clearly Rev. Jones fits this definition. His group is in financial trouble with financial notices visibly posted on the church's property. Clearly he is seeking money and his fifteen minutes of fame as a bigot. It's wonderful to see that the Gainesville community has rejected his venom and hate. This is a community that has rejected hate and intolerance and is moving on with a message of respect, service, and dignity for all of its residents."

For more information contact: Mahdi Bray at MAS Freedom at 1-888-627-8471 or at [email protected] or visit masfreedom.org for more details.

MAS Freedom (MASF) is a civic and human rights advocacy of the Muslim American Society (MAS), the largest Muslim, grassroots, charitable, religious, social, cultural, civic and educational organization in America - with 55 chapters in 35 states.

SOURCE MAS Freedom