FBI probe is sought in burning of Quran in East Lansing

[maddezmom]

Source: Free Press

A national Islamic group has called for an FBI investigation after a burned Quran, its pages allegedly covered in feces, was found Saturday at an East Lansing mosque frequented by the Michigan State University community.

"To have the Quran burned at a mosque is equivalent to having a cross burned at a black church," said Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, referring to an intimidation tactic frequently used during the civil rights movement.

He has asked the FBI to consider the burning a hate crime.

The incident at the Islamic Center of East Lansing is one of at least three reported around the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It also comes on the heels of a Florida pastor's plan, which he abandoned, to burn copies of the Quran.

FBI spokeswoman Sandra Berchtold said Sunday that the agency is in discussion with mosque leaders.


Read more: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100913/NEWS05/9130376/1320/FBI-probe-is-sought-in-burning-of-Quran&template=fullarticle

[Kolesar]

1. IIRC, the Koran uses the same stories as the Talmud/Old Testament

Not all of the same stories, of course. I understand that, in the Koran, the stories are written with more "attitude".

[COLGATE4]

2. Poor East Lansing. Right in the middle of liberal-minded

MSU community but surrounded on all sides by Michigan Militia and like-minded knuckle-draggers. Sucks to be a Muslim in R.L.

[uppityperson]

3. k&r. I agree with the comparison, cross burned @ a black church.

[Bragi]

4. The may well be a hate crime

I believe strongly that publicly burning a "holy" book at your own time and place may be offensive, but it is protected free speech, and cannot be considered a hate crime.

I reject the idea that this kind of action is akin to burning a cross on someone's front lawn (as per an earlier SC ruling.)

However, going to a Mosque and doing what is described, even anonymously, seems quite different. It appears to be intended specifically to intimidate, and may well be a hate crime.

[LanternWaste]

5. the agenda of both may be precisely the same.

"I reject the idea that this kind of action is akin to burning a cross on someone's front lawn.."



I can't reject it out of hand as the message and agenda of both may be precisely the same.