Soccer ball insult

Khaleej Times reported Afghanistan’s parliament demanded Saturday that US-led forces apologize for distributing footballs that carried Koranic verses and have been labeled insulting to Islam.

The US-led military coalition late last month dropped toys, including soccer balls, into the eastern province of Khost as part of a goodwill gesture aimed at winning over support from the local population. The balls showed the flags of several nations, including the Saudi standard, which bears the verses.

The military did not select Koranic verses. It selected flags of nations in the area. Maybe the insult is on the part of the Saudis, who put Koranic verses on their flag, knowing that many people burn flags to show their dislesure with that country's government.

‘The people’s representatives want them (US-led forces) to formally apologize out of respect for public opinion and sentiment,’ the conservative parliament said in a statement that was voted for by most MPs. ‘We, representing the people of Afghanistan, want our friendly forces to respect the culture and tradition of people in their activities.’ About 100 people demonstrated after the balls were dropped into Khost by helicopters, saying they were an insult to their religion.

Their religion certainly is easy to insult. Maybe they realize what a bad religion it is. And maybe that is why they kill someone that leaves their religion (Bukhari) even though Surah 2:256 says “There is no compulsion in religion…”