The Southern California chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) ON August 25 called the planned desecration of the Qur’ān by a church in Gainesville, FL “misguided,” and announced that it would distribute 10,000 free copies of the Qur’ān through its 1-877-WhyIslam outreach project in response to the Gainesville event. ICNA Southern California also launched www.sponsoraquran.com, a new Quran distribution initiative, specifically for this cause. Condemned by various local churches, synagogues and mosques, as well as the National Association of Evangelicals, the Gainesville event is scheduled for the ninth anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
Amir Mertaban, Chairman of the ICNA chapter’s Dawah Committee said “We feel that a positive act like this is much more effective and appropriate in countering a hateful act like the one in Gainesville.” Muslims are obligated to respect other religions and their holy books, particularly the Bible, and Mertaban added that, “A Muslim would never burn a Bible.”