Well, it’s good to know that was a strong condemnation. The incident is pretty gruesome:
‘The attack took place about 4:30 p.m. at an operations centre for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, according to information released by the mission.‘
Reports say fourteen dead. Two among them beheaded. From the Telegraph, violence escalated after a rally became a riot:
“Over a thousand protesters had flooded into the streets of the normally peaceful city after Friday prayers to denounce the burning of Islam’s holy book, the Koran, by a US pastor, and after two or three hours violence broke out.“
Of course, the violence is inexcusable, despite the many reasons why so many Afghans joined in common cause (the ostensible one being the burning of their holy book). The Western side of the equation will still involve freedom of speech. The burners likely did the religion they claim to stand for no favors (the murderers did worse), and the issue may bring the free speech debate (limits) here to the fore.
Foreign Policy has more.
Also On This Site: We’ll likely be there for a while, as the good reasons why we are still generally hold (Terrorism, AfPak, India): From March 27th, 2009 At WhiteHouse.Gov: Remarks By The President On A New Strategy For Afghanistan And Pakistan…Repost-From Michael Yon: ‘The Battle For Kandahar’…From Commonweal: Andrew Bacevich “The War We Can’t Win: Afghanistan And The Limits Of American Power”
The Hitchens factor, and a vigorous defense of free speech: From Beautiful Horizons: ‘Christopher Hitchens and Tariq Ramadan at the 92nd Street Y’…Via YouTube: ‘Christopher Hitchens Vs. Ahmed Younis On CNN (2005)’…From Michael Totten: ‘An Interview With Christopher Hitchens’
‘Mohammad Cartoonist Lars Vilks Headbutted During Lecture’……From The OC Jewish Experience: ‘UC Irvine Muslim Student Union Suspended’…From Volokh: ‘”South Park” Creators Warned (Threatened) Over Mohammed’
What kind of threats to free speech do the justice and rights crowd pose?: Repost-A Canadian Libertarian Making Noise: Ezra Levant
