Quran Desecration Story

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Anyone hear about this yet? Newsweek was about to report that Soldiers at Guantanomo Bay were mistreating the Quran, but later decided not to publish the story. Regardless, the story is out now.

There are no official documents on this rumor, but even the rumor is bad. For anyone who understands the importance of the Quran to Muslims, an outrage is an understatement.

I won't even allow dust to gather on the Quran, and its much more difficult for me to believe that someone would mistreat it in the way that was reported.

I am sure most people won't understand why someone would make a big fuss about the Quran being mistreated, but try to understand it from a different perspective. The Quran is literally, according to Islam, the word of God. Therefore, committing these acts is nothing short of heinous.

I am not kidding when I say these stories upset me very much.

Check this out:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/17/AR2005051701315.html

 

[Pezz]

If this is true, which I believe it is, the u.s soldiers have done quite enough now, no wonder why the moozlimz are angry at you for "helping" them

 

[United Slaves]

We shall see in judgement day, i feel sorry for those soldiers.

 

[not really ken]

doesn't surprise me.

 

[devils_advok8]

Fuck, man.I would'nt even touch the Quran without washing my hands.They're basically provoking Muslims' feelings all around the world.There were upraisals everywhere, and a couple of days ago thousands of Afghanis went on a strike and threatened to declare war if those criminals werent handed in to a Muslim country to get their punishment.
But we Muslims, nowadays, are humilated on a regular basis.We've brought this upon ourselves, by keeping our mouths shut whenever some shit like that happens.

 

[tourniquet]

it really is hard to find words to describe these people, again..another indication of the level of integrity and honour of the united states of america..

 

[Morris]

How on Earth did you guys not read that Newsweek retracted this story about 48 hours ago?

Newsweek DID publish the report saying US guards flushed the Koran at Guantanamo last week. Muslims rioted in a number of countries and were killed by the dozens in protests. Then this weekend Newsweek admitted that their source couldn't confirm the accounts and yesterday they completely retracted the story.

Where have you guys been the past few days?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=763636&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

Newsweek magazine, under fire for publishing a story that led to deadly protests in Afghanistan, said Monday it was retracting its report that a military probe had found evidence of desecration of the Quran by U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay.

"Based on what we know now, we are retracting our original story that an internal military investigation had uncovered Quran abuse at Guantanamo Bay," Whitaker said.

Whitaker had written in a note to readers that "We regret that we got any part of our story wrong, and extend our sympathies to victims of the violence and to the U.S. soldiers caught in its midst."

Whitaker said in his note that while other news organizations had aired charges of Quran abuse based on the testimony of detainees, the magazine decided to publish a short item after hearing from an unnamed U.S. official that a government probe had found evidence corroborating the charges.

But on Friday, a top Pentagon spokesman told the magazine that a review of the military's investigation concluded "it was never meant to look into charges of Quran desecration."

Whitaker added that the magazine's original source later said he could not be sure he read about the alleged Quran incident in the report Newsweek cited, and that it might have been in another document. Whitaker said the magazine was still looking into the charges.

 

[Sebastian]

Where have you guys been the past few days?
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=763636&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

right, stop talking and inform yourself :thumb:

 

[devils_advok8]

Morris, they retracted the report under pressure.They even said it themselves.
Anyways, you all know that it did happen.Anyways, it wasnt the first time, neither.Three released prisoners had revealed the guards have been doing it for over a year, and that cases of stepping on the Quran and throwing it away on the ground while searching their stuff was regular, and that the Quran was thrown in buckets prisoners used as toilettes.
I just can't believe you're claiming the accusations were false.I guess Abu Ghraib wasnt enough for you, was it?

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Morris, thanks for your quick reply but it doesn't add anything to this thread. I knew it retracted the story but that's really not relevant. This thread is about the rumors themselves not a particular magazine or newspaper. Regardless of whether Newsweek published it or not, the rumors are still there.

I knew fullwell that Newsweek retracted the story. That does not mean, however, that the rumors went back into the dark.

As the CNN article shows, there have been other sources that spoke of these rumors.

Lastly, I wouldn't go on nonsense to base any of my claims. If I thought there was absolutely no merit, I wouldn't post this. The fact remains that former prisoners with nothing to gain came forward and said the soldiers disrespectd the Quran. The same was said about a former chaplain.

Your post does not even question the validity of the story. You only talked about Newsweek.

 

[Baukem]

it DID happen, we have had reports from it long before newsweek came with it.. they can deny it now but that doesnt mean shit

 

[Jokerman]

The fact remains that former prisoners with nothing to gain...

Nothing to gain! How about getting back at their captors? How about having the US condemned in the world press if this story is believed? How about it maybe getting their fellow prisoners released from there eventually?

They have nothing to gain. As if this is how they think:

Former prisoner: "Even though I love the US and what they're doing in the Mid-East, even though I consider my former captors friends, I've tried to keep this under wraps as long as I could for America's sake. By coming out with this, I know I will be ostracized by my fellow Muslims, but I could be silent no longer."

Do they have any reason not to make it up? No, they don't. I'm not saying they did make it up, just answering your statement.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Jokerman, your post is ridiculous. You could use your reasoning in everything.

Lets say a lady was abused by her former husband. You would say that she has everything to gain by speaking out about him. The problem with your reasoning is that there's no limit to it. The question is...what if she really was abused?

Like I said, they're rumors. I don't expect everyone to believe them. Its the US' word versus the words of a number of men.

I believe the men's stories are very plausible. They said the guards would throw the Quran on the floor while going through their cells. What's so difficult to believe about that? I've seen guards on TV (non-fictional programming) go through regular prison cells and pretty much throw everything in every direction. Its not unheard of. For the guards, the Quran meant nothing, and it was just another book to them. That makes the story of these guys even more plausible simply for the fact that anyone would throw a book on the floor if they don't care about the content of the book.

So, exactly what have these men gained? Financially, there's nothing, because its unlikely they were paid by anyone. You say they got back at the USA, but who's going to believe them? Most Americans won't believe them because of their background so they really didn't hurt the USA. Besides, there have been more damaging stories that were proven true such as the Abu Ghurayb thing. If the Abu Ghurayb thing was proven to be true, and we all know it was rumors at one point, why is this totally preposterous?

I am not saying you shouldn't disagree with me. I am saying you should at least come up with something better than that.

 

[Jokerman]

I wasn't talking about whether the guards did it or not. I was responding to you saying they had nothing to gain by making it up. That was naive. They are trying to stir up the Muslim world, which they did. 19 or so ppl died. All Muslims, I believe.

Every time US soldiers have entered a mosque in Iraq after fighting the insurgents holed up and shooting from there, we've heard tales of how they desecrated the Quran while there. What did they have to gain? If the book means nothing to them, why would they bother?

 

[bigmack]

how they they feel if the muslims stepped all over their bibles? its the same goddamn thing. so why would they do shit like this?

this is just sick.

but i guess everyone will be judged come judgement day right.theres always someone who sees everything.

 

[S O F I]

So much for freedom of the press.

 

[Morris]

Morris, they retracted the report under pressure.They even said it themselves.

They retracted their story because their source was eventually forced to admit that he wasn't 100% sure that the allegations were in that Pentagon report. As it turned out, that report had NOTHING to say about desecration of the Koran.

Anyways, you all know that it did happen.Anyways, it wasnt the first time, neither.Three released prisoners had revealed the guards have been doing it for over a year, and that cases of stepping on the Quran and throwing it away on the ground while searching their stuff was regular, and that the Quran was thrown in buckets prisoners used as toilettes.

The Pentagon investigated the claims of the former captives and found all of them to be without merit and groundless.

I just can't believe you're claiming the accusations were false.I guess Abu Ghraib wasnt enough for you, was it?

Abu Ghraib is unrelated to Guantanamo Bay. There are no tangible connections between the two locations.

You can't believe I'm questioning the accusations because you're too busy wishing them to be true. The truth is that none of us have any proof whatsoever to back up whether or not the Koran was desecrated at Guantanamo. All we have are the words of former captives and the Pentagon, neither of which are exactly the most objective sources.

I don't blame you if you don't trust the Pentagon, but I think it's absolutely asinine that you blame me for not trusting former captives.

 

[devils_advok8]

The Pentagon investigated the claims of the former captives and found all of them to be without merit and groundless.Abu Ghraib is unrelated to Guantanamo Bay. There are no tangible connections between the two locations.

But it was too late, wasnt it?Even if it didnt happen (I highly doubt it), it's too late to change Muslims' opinions.Abu Ghraib's accusations were too much already they couldnt change anything about it, so why is it supposed to be difficult for me to believe what happened in Guantanamo lately did happen?Not saying that's what you meant to tell me, I was just referring to Abu Ghraib to give you an example of muslim abuse cases that had happened before.

You can't believe I'm questioning the accusations because you're too busy wishing them to be true. The truth is that none of us have any proof whatsoever to back up whether or not the Koran was desecrated at Guantanamo. All we have are the words of former captives and the Pentagon, neither of which are exactly the most objective sources.

I don't blame you if you don't trust the Pentagon, but I think it's absolutely asinine that you blame me for not trusting former captives.

Trust me, Morris, I DONT want to believe they're true.I just cant handle the fact that there are people out there who can do such fucked up things.
I dont even know what to say.I'm sure it I phrased it all badly, though

 

[tourniquet]

as if a retraction of a report that not only proliferates the already tainted reputaion and undermines the whole agenda of the U.S, but directs the most objective people in a pathway of disgust and vexation, would mean that it was false. It's true that no one can be 100% sure, but i think any rational, logical person would derive and understand the truth..

 

[Morris]

But it was too late, wasnt it?Even if it didnt happen (I highly doubt it), it's too late to change Muslims' opinions.Abu Ghraib's accusations were too much already they couldnt change anything about it

It was too late well before Abu Ghraib. All Abu Ghraib did was give anti-US people another excuse to foment their hatred of the country and protest. The people who rioted after the Newsweek article didn't go from a neutral opinion of the US to sheer hatred: these were people who would take any excuse they could get to protest against the US.

I dont even know what to say.I'm sure it I phrased it all badly, though

Actually my post wasn't even directed toward you so much as it was Pennypacker (whose quotes I was replying to).

as if a retraction of a report that not only proliferates the already tainted reputaion and undermines the whole agenda of the U.S, but directs the most objective people in a pathway of disgust and vexation, would mean that it was false.

Typically if the media prints something and retracts it, they are acknowledging that their story was incorrect. So yes, technically that would mean the allegations were false.

Newsweek wasn't under fire for making the allegations themselves. Newsweek was under fire because the allegations were being vehemently denied, and it turned out that their source for the allegations was wrong: the referenced report had nothing to do with Koran abuse, even if it was actually happening.