Christian library torched in rise of violent hysteria through middle east

 

Over 50,000 Books Burned in Christian Library in Lebanon Over Blasphemy Claim; US Leader Says ‘Violent Hysteria’ Spreading in Muslim World

BY TYLER O’NEIL , CP REPORTER

American leaders denounced the burning of a Christian leader’s library in Tripoli, Lebanon, last Friday night as based on false pretenses and said it’s a threat to religious liberty.

“The really bad news is that this is not out of the ordinary,” Robert P. George, chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), told The Christian Post in an interview on Monday. George emphasized the need to advocate for religious freedom across the world to prevent attacks like this one.

The Friday night fire burned two-thirds of some 80,000 books and manuscripts in the Al-Saeh library owned by Greek Orthodox priest Ibrahim Surouj, RT reported. The arsonists targeted Surouj due to an alleged pamphlet insulting the Prophet Mohammed was found in one of the library books. When Surouj met with Islamic leaders in the city, he stated that he had nothing to do with the pamphlet.

International Security Forces Brig. Imad Ayyoubi also denounced the connection. “Father Surouj has nothing to do with the article and the source of the website is from Denmark and was published on Jan. 7, 2010,” Ayyoubi said, The Blaze reported. Hundreds of Lebanese citizens demonstrated Saturday in support of the priest.

“Flames of a violent hysteria against all perceived threats to Islam are spreading rapidly through the Muslim world today,” Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, told CP on Monday…(continue reading at the Christian Post)