Michigan Imam Wants to Make Burning the Koran Illegal

After three copies of the Koran were burned outside his mosque, a Dearborn, Michigan imam wants to make it a crime to burn holy books.

Although the imam, Sheikh Husham Al-Husainy, said Bibles and Torahs should also be protected, he’s going to the city council to propose a city ordinance. Since the city of Dearborn is well-known for being heavily Muslim, there’s no doubt he’s primarily concerned with banning Koran-burning.

Several attorneys also met with the imams at Thursday’s meeting. Al-Husainy said they helped with legal advice in his plan for a new law making it illegal to burn or desecrate holy books.

“We want all of the religions to cooperate with us to bring respect to the word of God, whether the Quran, Bible, or Torah,” he said.

I agree that burning any holy book with the intent to harass believers is repugnant. (And possibly illegal, if there’s trespassing or vandalism:  involved.) But this law is plainly unconstitutional. No American can be forced to “respect the word of God”–or Allah.

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