The Pastor Terry Jones who burned the Qur'an was jailed by a local judge along with his associate Wayne Sapp after a court found their planned protest outside the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, could lead to violence.
During his court appearance, Jones argued that the Quran “promotes terrorist activities around the world.” He also insisted that his right to protest against Islam was protected by the First
Amendment to the US Constitution. “The First Amendment does us no good if it confines us to saying what is popular,” he pointed out.But Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad testified that his department had received information about serious threats made against Jones from local residents, arguing that his protest could lead to violence if allowed.
Prosecutor Robert Moran argued that the protest had nothing to do with the First Amendment and at stake were security and peace in the community.
In the end, the jury sided with the prosecution and Judge Mark Somers set bond at the symbolic amount of $1 each for the two pastors, which they initially refused to pay.
Following their refusal, both were escorted to a local jail. But local media reported both men changed their minds after spending about an hour behind bars and posted the $1 bond.
Jones and Sapp made international headlines after their ceremonial “trial and execution” of the Quran by burning led to deadly protests in Afghanistan.
Last month’s Quran burning unleashed protests across Afghanistan, some of which were violent. Seven UN staff were killed during one protest in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on April 1. Overall, more than 50 people have been killed.
