Quran-burning pastor jailed for refusing to pay $1 bond to protest at mosque

In Dearborn, Mich., anti-Islam Pastor Terry Jones and an assistant were ordered to jail tonight after they refused to pay a $1 peace bond to hold a rally at the largest mosque in North America, the Detroit Free Press reports.

After a two-day trial-like hearing, a jury sided with prosecutors and agreed that Jones would likely "breach the peace" with his planned rally outside the Islamic Center of America. Authorities argued that a riot could erupt.

Posecutors had estimated the cost of additional security at about $46,000. But the judge set the so-called peace bond at just $1.

Jones, 59, head a small, fundamentalist Christian congregation in Gainesville, Fla. He has gained notoriety for burning the Muslim holy book last month, leading to deadly riots in Afghanistan, including the killing of U.N. workers.

During the hearing, he said that he and and another pastor intended to protest jihad and Sharia law and did not plan to burn Qurans or images of the prophet Mohammed.

"We are not criminals," said Jones, dressed in faded blue jeans, a black Harley Davison T-shirt and worn motorcycle jacket. "All we want to do is exercise our First Amendment rights."

Counter-demonstrators have been holding their own rally today near the courthouse.

The Free Press, a sister paper to USA TODAY, is live blogging events.

See our earlier post today about Jones accidentally firing his .40-caliber handgun last night.

See photos of: QuranTags:QuranTerry JonesIslamic Center of America .div-wrapper

View the Original article

Quran-burning pastor accidentally fires gun on eve of Mich. anti-Muslim rally

Terry Jones, the Quran-burning pastor from Florida who is in Michigan to try to mount an anti-Muslim rally this evening, accidentally fired his .40-caliber handgun while leaving a TV studio parking lot Thursday night, the Detroit Free Press reports, quoting police.

The 59-year-old pastor of the Dove World Ootreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., is in court today to press his plans to rally today in front of the Islamic Center of America, in Dearborn, a heavily Muslim city.

Dearborn police insist that he pay security costs estimated at $46,000, the newspaper reports.

The shooting incident occurred in Southfield as Jones was getting in the passenger side of his car. The Taurus handgun went off, sending a bullet into the floorboard, Southfield Police Lt. Nick Loussia said today, according to the Free Press.

"Officers heard a gunshot, approached the vehicle, asked Mr. Jones if he was OK," Loussia said. "He was, and they also observed he had a gun in his hand."

Officers took the weapon, and also found another hand gun near the driver, a man from Florida traveling with Jones. Both men were carrying valid Florida concealed weapon licenses, which are recognized in Michigan, Loussia said. The men were allowed to leave without further action

Jones told reporters outside today outside the Dearborn courthouse that the firing was "an accident."

Tags:Terry JonesIslamic Center of AmericaDearborn, Mich. .div-wrapper

View the Original article

Pastor Joel Osteen

Comments 0

Joel Osteen was born in Houston, Texas on March 5th, of the year 1963. He married Victoria L. Iloff 1987 and they have two children, Jonathan and Alexandra. In his professional life, he has been actively involved in producing Church’s television program. Initially, he did not preach and tried only once a week before his father’s death but today all of his Church’s services are led by him. Not only that, his sessions are recorded and aired and people around the globe in hundreds of different countries can see his lectures. Not only that, he is also a very successful author. His first book entitled Your Best life now: seven steps to living at your full potential was published in the year 2004. In the year 2006, he was named among the ten most fascinating people of the year 2006 by Barbara Walters.

View the Original article

Fla. pastor denies responsibility for Afghan killings

"Last fall interfaith religious leaders such as Cardinal Theodore McCarrick denounced Pastor Terry Jones' plans to burn a Quran. This month, Jones church burned the holy book with no warning and religious and political leaders are horrified."

View the Original article