In a statement, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government) has condemned U.S. troops for burning copies of the Koran in Afghanistan, and expressing shock that despite ten years of occupation, the Americans do not understand the cultural and religious sensibilities of Afghans.
Following is the text of the statement:
"This is the Tenth Time That the American Forces are Repeating the Despised Action of Insulting the Holy Koran and Other Religious Books and Later on Call It Erroneous"
"As usual, once again the invader Americans committed an unpardonable barbaric felony, a crime which enraged the feelings of Afghans as well as of the whole Muslim world. This is approximately the tenth time that the American forces are repeating the despised action of insulting the Holy Koran and other religious books and later on call it erroneous.
"How is it possible that ... [despite a] ten-year occupation, they do not understand the culture and religious sanctities of Afghans or no awareness in this regard is given to them? Don't they understand that the Holy Koran is the message of the Sole Authority of the universe [i.e. god] and is a guidance book for mankind? Don't they know that they should deal with other religious books as they behave with their own?
