Florida Church Determined to Burn Korans on 9/11

A Florida church has vowed to go ahead with its plan to hold a Koran burning on 9/11, in defiance of a city ruling that states such an act would violate fire codes. The city of Gainesville turned down the Dove World Outreach Center’s application for a burn permit, the Gainesville Sun reports, with the fire department saying that open book burnings were against regulations.

“It wouldn’t matter what the book is they’re burning,” says the interim fire chief, adding that the church will be fined if it goes through with its plan. Which it seems intent on doing. The church sent out an email yesterday with the heading, “City of Gainesville denies burn permit—BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS.” Dove World has less than 100 members, and Gainsville’s mayor has called it a “tiny fringe group and an embarrassment to our community.” (More Koran stories.)