WASHINGTON (AFP) – A small group of conservative Christians tore some pages from a Koran in a protest outside the White House Saturday to denounce what they called the “charade of Islam” on the anniversary of 9/11.
“Part of why we’re doing that, please hear me: the charade that Islam is a peaceful religion must end,” said Randall Terry, a leading anti-abortion campaigner, and one of six people who took part in the protest.
Another activist, Andrew Beacham, read out a few Koran passages calling for hatred towards Christians and Jews, and then ripped those pages from an English paperback edition of the Islamic holy book.
He carefully put the torn pieces into a plastic bag, in order not to litter, and said: “The only reason I will not burn it at the White House is because to burn anything on the Capitol grounds is a felony.”
Beacham, who describes himself as a leader of the rightwing conservative Tea Party from Indiana, added: “The Twin Towers were taken down because of the Koran and other religious teachings.”
A few curious tourists stopped to watch the huddle outside the White House, while police took down the names of the participants but did not intervene.
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Videography by Barbara Rosenfeld 
