Fla. pastor has legal right to burn Qurans, as long as intimidation, violence line uncrossed

Florida pastor has legal right to burn Qurans

MIAMI — A Florida pastor’s plans to burn Qurans at his church on the ninth anniversary of Sept. 11 might offend and infuriate people across the world.

But legal experts say it’s likely protected speech under the First Amendment unless it is used to directly intimidate someone or incite violence.

One applicable Supreme Court ruling came in 1989, when the justices struck down laws in Texas and 47 other states that prohibited desecration of the U.S. flag.

In another case in 2003, the Supreme Court struck down Virginia’s broad ban on cross-burning, ruling that it did not differentiate between expressing an idea and directly threatening someone.