9 Sep 2010

AFGHANISTAN / KORAN

The top UN envoy to Afghanistan voices his outrage over the threat by a religious group in the US to burn copies of the Koran, warning that it could endanger the lives of those working to further peace and development in the Asian nation. UNAMA

Posted at: September 9, 2010 1:39 pm

Duration: 01:06

Available in: SD

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STORY: AFGHANISTAN / KORAN
TRT: 1.06
SOURCE: UNAMA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 9 SEPTEMBER 2010, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN/ FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE - MAY 2009, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

1.	Tilt up, UN flag being raised

9 SEPTEMBER 2010, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

2.	SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
"I would like to convey to all of you, through you, the deep concern and indeed the outrage of every member of the UN family in Afghanistan – and I can speak also, I believe, on behalf of every member of the international community in Afghanistan – about the announcement by a small religious group abroad about their intention to burn the holy book of Quran."

FILE - RECENT

3.	Close up, UN flag

9 SEPTEMBER 2010, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

4.	SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
"Freedom of expression does not, cannot mean offending millions and million of Muslims who respect Islam and respect the Quran. And by the way we respect Islam and the Quran."

FILE - RECENT

5.	Close up, UN flag

STORYLINE:

The top United Nations envoy to Afghanistan today voiced his outrage over the threat by a religious group in the United States to burn copies of the Koran, warning that it could endanger the lives of those working to further peace and development in the Asian nation.

SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
"I would like to convey to all of you, through you, the deep concern and indeed the outrage of every member of the UN family in Afghanistan – and I can speak also, I believe, on behalf of every member of the international community in Afghanistan – about the announcement by a small religious group abroad about their intention to burn the holy book of Quran."

De Mistura, who heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), stated that the exercise of the freedom of expression should not be confused with the intention to offend the religion and beliefs of millions of people.

SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
"Freedom of expression does not, cannot mean offending millions and million of Muslims who respect Islam and respect the Quran. And by the way we respect Islam and the Quran."

His comments follow similar remarks from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly President Ali Treki. According to media reports, the top US commander in Afghanistan David Petraeus also warned that the move could endanger the lives of troops serving in the country.