Muslim extremists suspected in death of Christian worker in India

Family members of a Christian worker who was found dead in a Muslim area in Jharkhand state a day after the Islamic Eid festival said they suspect he may have been murdered by local residents.

The body of Shravan Kumar, who had worked with the Gospel Echoing Missionary Society, was found lying in a well near the Idgah Mosque in Garhwa town in the wee hours of Sept. 13, a close relative of the deceased told Compass by phone.

Kumar, 31, lived in Pratapgarh district in neighboring Uttar Pradesh state. He left for Garhwa, 65 kilometers (40 miles) from his house, saying he wanted to see a colleague there on Sept 10.

“But neither did he visit the colleague, nor did he get back home,” said the relative.

On Sept. 15, a family member went to Garhwa looking for him. He found his picture in an advertisement police had placed in a local newspaper in an effort to identify the body.

“When Kumar’s body was handed over to the family, it was beyond recognition; it had swollen,” said the relative.

Ground Zero mosque may be moved further away from WTC site

An attorney for Hisham Elzanaty, the man who claims to be the majority stakeholder in the project, said he is considering building the Islamic community center at 30 Cliff Street, the location of an active mosque about seven blocks away from ground zero.

“It is nicely situated on a nice piece of property,” said Wolodymyr Starosolosky , Elzanaty’s attorney, according to Fox News New York. “It seems well attended. All sorts of people come there – white Americans, black Americans, people from the Middle East and so forth. It is very active.”

Starosolosky said he already met the imam of the 30 Cliff Street mosque and the people there “were very kind and very courteous.” He also clarified that his client is the ultimate decision maker in where the Park51 project will be built because he has the most money invested in it.

Coptic leader apologises for bishop's Koran remarks in Egypt - said Muslims are guests only.

The leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt has apologised for the "inappropriate" comments made by the church body’s second highest ranking cleric regarding the authenticity of some Koran verses.

Last week, Bishop Bishoy sparked outrage when he was quoted by the Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper as saying that "Muslims are only guests" in the country. Bishoy was also quoted in the Egyptian media for wondering about the time frame for the revelation of the Koranic verses disputing the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

Six arrested in Gateshead over 'Koran burning'

Officers detained two men on September 15 and four more yesterday and all six were bailed pending further inquiries, Northumbria Police said.

''The arrests followed the burning of what are believed to have been two Korans in Gateshead on September 11,'' the spokesman said.

The men hide their faces as they hold a copy of the Koran prior to setting fire to it

Imam Refuses to Back Down on Ground Zero Mosque

The Imam behind the plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero is back in the United States and weighing in on the issue for the first time in nearly two months.

On Wednesday, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf published an editorial in the New York Times saying he will not back away from the project.

He also said the Muslim center will focus on building bridges between all faiths, noting the mosque will have prayer rooms for many different religions.

The Imam also reminded critics of President Obama's support.

Florida Minister Pastor Terry Jones Cancels Burning of Korans on 9/11 - Donald Trump offer to buy off one of the investor to defuse situation.

The Florida pastor who had planned to burn Korans on Saturday in opposition of Islam has called off the event after he claims a deal was reached to move a proposed mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.

Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center said he agreed to cancel the Koran burning planned for this year's 9/11 anniversary after he received assurances that the Ground Zero mosque would be moved.

Jones claimed Imam Muhammad Musri of the Islamic Society of Central Florida told him officials behind the Islamic center would "guarantee" the mosque construction be moved.

However, Musri later clarified that he said the pastor was only offered a meeting with NYC Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, and that no deal had been made to move the mosque.

Jones will travel to New York City to meet with Rauf Saturday. The imam has indicated that the mosque location is not up for negotiation.

"I asked him three times, and I have witnesses," Jones said. "If it's not moved, then I think Islam is a very poor example of religion. I think that would be very pitiful. I do not expect that."

Pastor Terry Jones controverisal and said Islam is of the devil and Burn the koran day.

Pastor Terry Jones Calls off Koran Burning, But Deal for Ground Zero Mosque Is Denied - Defense Secretary Gates Calls Pastor in Appeal to Cancel Koran Burning

A fiery Florida pastor called off his bonfire of Korans today after claiming he has a deal that will move a controversial mosque away from the site of the 9/11 terror attacks, but the Muslim cleric planning the so-called Ground Zero Mosque quickly denied to ABC News that he has agreed to move his project.

Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Fla., emerged from his church in Gainesville, Fla., along with Florida Imam Muhammad al-Masri to announce his decision to cancel his Koran burning, saying he viewed the supposed deal as "a sign from God."

The fiery pastor said that Imam Abdel Rauf, the leader behind the Ground Zero mosque in Manhattan, will meet with him in New York on Saturday.

"He has agreed to move it," Jones said referring to the Ground Zero Mosque. "And we have agreed to cancel our event on Saturday."


"Americans don't want the mosque there and of course Muslims don't want us to burn Korans," said Jones.

The White House is considering having a member of the administration call pastor Terry Jones in an attempt to head off this weekend's bonfire of Korans, which has sparked threats of violence worldwide.