DETROIT -- He burned a Quran and says Islam is evil. Now, Florida Pastor Terry Jones says he's coming to Dearborn, Mich., next month to protest outside the Islamic Center of America.
But some local Muslims say they'll welcome Jones when he makes his April 22 visit.
They hope that Jones will meet with them to talk about Islam. One leader even plans to invite Jones inside the mosque to share a meal.
"We should show him hospitality," said Eide Alawan, a longtime interfaith leader at the Islamic Center. "I would hope we could welcome the minister, maybe have other clergy come in for brunch at our mosque.
"When you break bread with someone, you see them in a different light."
Jones, pastor of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainsville, Fla., backed down from burning the Quran on Sept. 11 after many urged him not to, including President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
But on Sunday, Jones led a Quran burning after he set up a mock trial of the Quran, Islam's holy book. Afterward, a group based in Pakistan put up a $2.2 million reward for his death.
Jones told the Detroit Free Press that he's not against Muslims, saying, "We realize there are millions of peaceful Muslims." But, he added, he wants them to "honor, obey and submit to the Constitution of the United States."
He said he's worried about shari'a, or Islamic law, coming to the U.S., as he says it has in parts of Europe.
Dawud Walid, assistant imam for Masjid Wali Muhammad in Detroit, said he'd like to meet with Jones.
"If Jones wants to have a private conversation for a day in metro Detroit about Islam and the Quran, I'm more than welcome to engage him in such."
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