Four military cadets accused of desecrating Qur’an with bacon, ‘bodily fluids’
OTTAWA — Four cadets from the Royal Military College in Saint-Jean, Que., have been accused of desecrating a Qur’an with bacon and “bodily fluids” during a cottage party over the Easter long weekend.
Military commanders have expressed frustration and disappointment over the allegations, particularly at a time when they are pushing to make the Forces more inclusive, and say they are taking the case extremely seriously.
At the same time, the incident has raised tensions and concerns about the safety of Canadian military personnel, given the violent reactions that such incidents involving desecrated Qur’ans have provoked in recent years.
In an interview on Friday, Lt.-Gen. Charles Lamarre, the chief of military personnel, said the alleged incident started when eight students from the Saint-Jean college headed out of town to a cottage.