U.S. Military Denies Quran Desecration

U.S. Military Denies Quran Desecration
Associated Press | October 15, 2007


KABUL, Afghanistan - The U.S. military said Monday it had looked into allegations that Soldiers had desecrated the Quran during a raid on an Afghan home and found no evidence that Soldiers had defaced the Muslim holy book.

The allegations sparked an outcry among villagers in the eastern province of Kunar, who met with the governor, provincial leaders and U.S. military commanders on Sunday over the issue.

Kunar deputy provincial governor Noor Mohammad Khan said American Soldiers raided the home of Mullah Zarbaz on Saturday morning, arresting him and three others.

Villagers alleged that Soldiers ripped, knifed and burned a Quran during the raid, allegations that sparked an angry demonstration on Saturday, Khan said. Two Afghan officials had been assigned to investigate the allegations, and a U.S. commander at the meeting Sunday said the military would punish anyone who had defaced the holy book, Khan said.

But Maj. Chris Belcher, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, which oversees Special Forces Soldiers who usually carry out nighttime raids, said Monday that the allegations had been investigated and were found to be baseless.

"We looked into it. There was no desecration of the Quran or any religious symbol by U.S. forces," Belcher said. "Had a Soldier desecrated it, we would take action."


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