FLORIDA: Church Denied Koran-Burning Permit, Plans To Proceed Anyway

Gainesville's Dove World Outreach Ministries has been denied a permit to burn a pile of Korans on September 11th, but says it plans to proceed with the ceremony anyway.

Gene Prince, the interim chief of Gainesville Fire Rescue, said Wednesday that under the city’s fire prevention ordinance, an open burning of books is not allowed. Dove World has made international news since announcing its intention to burn the holy book of Islam to mark the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Telephone and e-mail messages left for church officials were not immediately returned Wednesday. But permit or no permit, the church has indicated it will go ahead with its planned protest of Islam. In an e-mail newsletter sent out Wednesday, the church announced: “City of Gainesville denies burn permit -- BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS.” Prince said his department notified the church, which has fewer than 100 members, of the decision in a letter that was mailed Tuesday. He said the church could be fined if it went ahead and held the burning.

Dove World was also behind Gainesville's failed "No Homo Mayor" campaign. Openly gay Mayor Craig Lowe calls the church "an embarrassment to the community."

(Tipped by JMG reader Sozo)