Members of a Muslim group in Bermuda are protesting the burning of the Holy Koran in the United States on September 11.

The local branch of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community have said the act, to be carried out by a Florida church, is "absolutely illogical".

Bermuda resident Shabnam Jheengoor told The Royal Gazette: "I do not understand their actions. For me it is trying to generate more hatred in society."

On the anniversary of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, Dove World Outreach Center church members in Gainesville, Florida will burn copies of the Koran.

They claim that "Islam is a danger" and "are using this act to warn about the teaching and ideology of Islam, which we do hate as it is hateful," the church stated on its website.

The international Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which has branches in over 195 countries, operates on the motto 'love for all, hatred for none'.

The group has asked for the church to withdraw its plans to burn the holy scripture. They hope local authorities will step in to help, if not they plan to carry out peaceful protests.

A statement from the Muslim group said: "The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat condemns in the strongest terms reports that the Dove World Outreach Center, based in the United States, is planning to burn copies of the Holy Koran on 11 September.

"This would be a most provocative act and would achieve nothing but to cause distress and anger to millions of peace-loving persons worldwide. Burning any religious scripture is a horrific act and is directly contrary to the teachings of all the world's major religions."

Mrs. Jheengoor said the Muslim group has been trying for years to bridge the gaps between different religions and faiths.

"In Bermuda we have done a couple of things like inter-faith seminars and book stalls all to promote peace between different communities," she said.

"[We are hoping] people get to understand Islam. It is only a minority of people committing 9/11 and all these [terrorist] acts. The majority of Muslims, they understand the true teachings of Islam and they know that Islam is a peaceful religion."

Mrs. Jheengoor said no religion has the right to burn scriptures from another faith.

"They are sacred to the people so we should not offend them. I think tolerance and respect for each other is very important."

While Mrs. Jheengoor and her family will not be protesting themselves, they are keeping an eye on the church's website to find out what happens.

She said: "I know that many churches and religious communities in the US have joined together and are protesting on it. It is not only about burning the Koran, it is about burning a holy scripture."

l For more information on 'International Burn a Koran Day' visit http://www.doveworld.org/