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Muhammad Ali’s Funeral Has Westboro Baptist Church Planning Muslim Quran Burning: Wife Yolanda Williams Shares Photos

By Patrick Frye
Published on: 02:42 PST, Jun 4, 2016

Muhammad Ali’s funeral plans have yet to be announced, and already, the Westboro Baptist Church is planning on turning the service plans into a circus by threatening a Koran burning. If they follow up on this threat, the notorious hate group’s actions are certain to anger Muslims around the world, especially since Ali’s funeral will likely be set during Ramadan, which takes place between June 5 and July 5, 2016. Muhammad Ali’s wife, Yolanda Williams, has yet to respond to the Westboro Baptist’s Church’s picketing plans.

Even before reports could confirm what Muhammad Ali died from, the Westboro Baptist Church was beginning to spread its hate. They have promised to have a picket sign at Muhammad Ali’s funeral which says, “Christ is the only way!”

While the first tweet was relatively benign, the second immediately went on the attack by calling the Muslim prophet Muhammad a child molester.

Since Muhammad Ali’s funeral will supposedly “take place in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky,” the Westboro Baptist Church declared Ali’s service to be the “perfect place/time to burn Koran!” In their latest tweet, the WBC claimed Ali is “now in hell” and said, “A platform wasted with vanity and pride. God gave him gifts. Failing to warn against sin equals theft from God!”

In the past, Florida pastor Terry Jones became infamous for his plans to organize a Quran burning as part of the “International Burn a Koran Day” on September 9, 2010. The planned event was so notorious that President Obama claimed it could spark a violent reaction from Muslims around the world.

“As a very practical matter, as commander in chief … this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women who are in uniform,” Obama said, according to The Hill.

Pastor Jones canceled the 2010 event, but several years later, he was arrested right before he planned to burn 2,998 Koran copies on the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. According to NPR, the goal was to “burn the Quarans – one for every victim of the terrorist attacks.”

If Muhammad Ali’s funeral is heralded in by an actual Quran burning, then it is very possible the reaction could be violent. Back in 2012, U.S. troops at Bagram Base in Afghanistan burned copies of the Koran which had been used by Taliban prisoners to write messages to each other. Angry Muslims assaulted Bagram AFB by attacking the servicemen with petrol bombs and stones. In the end, many people were killed, including several Americans, according to The Stars And Stripes. Due to the potentially explosive nature of their picketing plans, it is even possible authorities could have Westboro Baptist Church arrested if they truly intend to follow up on their threat during Ramadan.

Yolanda Williams Pays Tribute To Her Husband On Twitter

Muhammad Ali’s wife Lonnie has been married to the famous boxer since 1986. According to the New York Times, Lonnie met her future husband when she was only six years old. When she was a teen she knew she’d eventually marry Ali.

“I had an epiphany when I was 17 — I knew I was going to marry Muhammad. I was just a kid in school, and I had things I needed to do, but I knew. I was young, but it was intuitive. The thought was like an umbrella, always over my head. We married in November of 1986.”

They had nine children, and the family all came together earlier when it was reported Ali was dying. Over time, she has shared multiple family photos on their Twitter account.

Speaking to Boxing, Muhammad Ali’s wife also expressed what she hoped would be her husband’s legacy.

“Muhammad’s legacy is what gets most of my attention and energy. Muhammad’s legacy is not just for me and his children and grandchildren, it’s a legacy for the world. The footprints he leaves are large and his life is and has been a multi-textured tapestry that is rich in love, wisdom, life lessons and human kindness. God gives us gifts in life and I firmly believe Muhammad is a gift to this world. To let his legacy be lost would almost be sinful. There are so many life lessons that can be learned through his example.”

[Image via Twitter/Yolanda Williams]

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