DID CADETS TRASH QUR’AN?

Three officer cadets will be kicked out of the Canadian Forces after they were involved in the desecration of a Qur’an with bacon and bodily fluid.

The incident with the Islamic holy book, which took place off-campus on March 31 during the Easter long weekend, involved four cadets from the Royal Military College in Saint-Jean, Que.

Other officer cadets reported it to Royal Military College Saint-Jean authorities on April 10 and an investigation was initiated the same day, the Canadian Forces said in a statement Friday. A video recording was made of the desecration of the Qur’an — in which at least one of the cadets allegedly masturbated onto the book — but it no longer exists, the Forces said.

“Such misconduct goes against our core beliefs and is not tolerated, especially at RMC Saint-Jean, where future leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces are trained and educated,” the statement said.

Two of the officer cadets were served with a notice that they will be recommended for release from the Canadian Forces for unsatisfactory conduct. Another was served with a release notice based on unsatisfactory performance. One officer cadet was served with a recorded warning and will undergo counselling.

The officer cadets are appealing the decision to kick them out and a final ruling on that action is expected in mid-June, Department of National Defence sources said.

“At this time there is no indication that any of them belong to any kind of hate group,” the military said in its statement.

The military police and Canadian Forces National Investigation Service were consulted but have not started an investigation. That job was instead handed over to commanders at the college.

Lt.-Gen. Charles Lamarre, the chief of military personnel, said the desecration of any religious symbol by a member of the Canadian Forces will not be tolerated.

“It saddens us really. It makes you feel like they’re just not getting it sometimes,” Lamarre said. “But the fact of the matter is the vast majority of them do get it. And that’s why I was thrilled that it was the young cadets themselves who said this is not right and reported it.”