Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, currently touring flood-hit areas of Pakistan to drum up support for victims, on Wednesday condemned a US church's plan to burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks. "I have hardly the words (to oppose the fact) that somebody
would do that to somebody's religious book," Jolie told a news conference in Islamabad after visiting reliefs camps in northwest Pakistan, one of the areas hit hardest by the floods.
Asked if she supported American pastor Terry Jones' plan to burn the Islamic holy book, she replied: "Of course not, of course not."
The move by Jones, who heads the little-known Dove World Outreach Center in Florida, has sparked concerns about heightened Christian-Muslim tensions in the US and other parts of the world, especially the Middle East.
The pastor has said he plans to go ahead despite the concerns.
Jolie, who is visiting Pakistan to highlight the plight of millions affected by the country's worst floods and the need for continuing aid for the displaced, welcomed the US government's opposition to Jones' plan.
The planned Quran burning has triggered protests in neighbouring Afghanistan, where US troops are battling Taliban fighters.
US military commanders have warned that the move could endanger American lives in Afghanistan.
In a statement, the US embassy in Islamabad condemned the Florida church's plans to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11.
"We condemn acts that are disrespectful, intolerant and divisive. We are deeply concerned about all deliberate attempts to offend members of any religious or ethnic group," said charge d'affaires Stephen C Engelken.
"We believe firmly in freedom of religion and freedom of expression; they are universal rights, enshrined in the US Constitution and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We reaffirm our position that the deliberate destruction of any holy book is an abhorrent act," he said.
Angelina Jolie on Wednesday condemned a Florida church's threat to burn copies of the Muslim holy book to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
The 35-year-old actress spoke out against the proposed burning during a trip to Pakistan to raise awareness about the floods that have devastated the largely Muslim country over the last six weeks. She visited in her capacity as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.'s refugee agency.
Jolie's criticism echoed that of top U.S. officials, who have described the church's plan as a disgraceful act and have even warned that it could endanger U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Americans worldwide.
"I have hardly the words that somebody would do that to somebody's religious book," Jolie told reporters in Islamabad after visiting refugees camps in northwestern Pakistan — one of the areas of the country hit hardest by the floods.
The Christian minister organizing the Quran burning, Pastor Terry Jones, has said he plans to go ahead in spite of concerns. He is part of the Dove World Outreach Center, a tiny, evangelical Christian church in Gainesville, Florida, with an anti-Islam philosophy.
The issue has not gotten much attention in Pakistan, where officials and residents have been trying to cope with the devastation caused by floods that first hit the country at the end of July following extremely heavy monsoon rains. The floodwaters have killed more than 1,700 people and have affected over 18 million others.
"I was shocked especially by how high the floodwaters went," said Jolie, who wore a long dress and covered her hair with a black scarf in keeping with local Muslim custom. "In some of the people's houses, it was nine feet (three meters) high."
U.N. officials have expressed hope that Jolie's visit would help spark the fundraising campaign to help Pakistan, which has stalled in recent days. The U.N. issued an appeal for $460 million in emergency funds on Aug. 11, but only $294 million, or 64 percent, has been received so far even though it is one of the worst natural disasters in recent years.
"There's lots of speculation about why this one has not gotten the attention it deserves," Jolie said. "Even all of the wonderful coverage ... is not getting the response that usually it's able to get."
