Info Trends 24

· Stephan Baar of the Christian Community of Cologne told the Associated Press, "We are surprised and shocked at the extreme radicalism being displayed [by Jones] right now on this issue."

· Top commander in Afghanistan Gen, "It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort,"

· "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems,” told David Petraeus to the media.

· "People have a constitutional right to burn a Koran if they want to, but doing so is insensitive and an unnecessary provocation -- much like building a mosque at Ground Zero." said Sarah Palin

· 'Europe... is a place where freedom of belief, of religion, where respect for beliefs and religions, are valuable commodities,' Dr Merkel said at an event honoring a Danish cartoonist whose 2005 drawing of the Prophet Mohammed offended many Muslims and sparked protests around the world.

· Dr Merkel said in a speech in Potsdam near Berlin, “If a fundamentalist, evangelical pastor in America wants to burn the Quran on September 11, then I find this simply disrespectful, even abhorrent and simply wrong.”

· 'I have hardly the words that somebody would do that to somebody's religious book,' contactmusic.com quoted Angelina Jolie as saying.

· “Each religion, with its respective sacred books, places of worship and symbols, has the right to respect and protection,” The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue said in a statement.

· White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday, “It puts our troops in harm’s way. And obviously any type of activity like that puts our troops in harm’s way would be a concern to this administration.”

· The United Nations’ top envoy for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, said it would harm his staff if “such an abhorrent act were to be implemented, it would only contribute to fuelling the arguments of those who are indeed against peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan”.

· Executive director of Muslim Advocates, Farhana Khera, who met with Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday, said the top US law enforcement official described as “idiotic and dangerous” the Florida church’s plan.

· Sheikh Abdel Muti al-Bayyumi, who sits on the Sunni Muslim seat of learning’s highest council, the Islamic Research Academy said, “If the government fails to stop this, this will be the latest manifestation of religious terrorism, and it would ruin America’s relations with the Muslim world,”

· Sheikh Abdel Muti al-Bayyumi said, “This will give an opportunity to terrorism. Are they trying to fight terrorism or encourage it?”

· Hillary Clinton said in remarks to the Council on Foreign Relations, “It is regrettable that a pastor in Gainesville, Florida, with a church of no more than 50 people can make this outrageous and distrustful, disgraceful plan and get the world’s attention, but that’s the world we live in right now,”. She also said, “It is unfortunate, it is not who we are,”

· “The reverend may have the right to do what he’s doing but it’s not right. It’s not consistent with our values ... I hope that his conscience and his good sense will take hold,” David Axelrod, senior adviser to President Barack Obama told CNN Wednesday morning.

· The spokesman of the UN secretary, Farhan Haq, said in a statement “The UN secretary general is deeply disturbed by reports of a small religious group which plans to burn copies of the Quran.” He further said,“Such actions cannot be condoned by any religion. They contradict the efforts of the United Nations and many people around the world to promote tolerance, intercultural understanding and mutual respect between cultures and religions.”

At last the long cherished Eid Ul Fitr, one of the biggest two religious festivals of the Muslims has come again marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is an occasion simultaneously for joy and learning. The month of self analysis and self restraint gives the Muslims opportunity to purify and reshape their life in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

As an essential element of Islam, the month-long fasting prohibits all wrong, inhuman and harmful acts. Falsehood, wrongdoing, creating indiscipline, and anarchy in society and all kinds of deception are sins in the eye of Islam. And the glorious month of Ramadan comes to us as the self judgment and purification. Eid in fact awakens in us the sprit that stimulates us in giving a concrete shape to our worldly and spiritual life.

Eid is also a communion of souls. It is the occasion for thanksgiving to the Almighty Creator. Mysticism is the philosophy of this festival. Eid is certainly an occasion for joy by pious Muslims who followed the commandments of Allah during Holy Ramadan.

The common scene on Eid day is exchanging greeting after prayers, visiting family members, friends and neighbors. Thus Muslims resume their normal life after Ramadan. They become enriched and better prepared to work according to the dictates of Islam. On this occasion, the Muslims pledge to establish an exploitation free society on the basis of religious values, and that is how the Muslims should observe Eid-Ul-Fitr.