Asia-Pacific News
Singapore Muslim leader calls for peaceful response to provocations
Sep 10, 2010, 8:56 GMT
Singapore - A Singapore Muslim leader called Friday on Muslims to refrain from 'acts of vendetta' when provoked, referring to plans by a Florida minister to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
'It is unfortunate that from time and again, there are small groups of misguided people ... provoking followers of different faiths, especially Islam, by their irresponsible acts,' said Abu-Bakar Maidin, president of Jamiyah Singapore, the city-state's Muslim Missionary Society.
'Muslims should be extremely careful in not falling into the traps of such provokers,' he said.
'Muslims all over the world must take and respond to provocations in a responsible and peaceful way,' Abu-Bakar said on Eid al-Fitr, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
About 15 per cent of Singapore's population of 5 million people are Muslims, according to the Singapore Muslim Community.
Florida Reverend Terry Jones planned to burn copies of the Koran Saturday. He cancelled the plan but on Thursday said he might reconsider that decision.
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