Military college students accused of desecrating the Qur’an

OTTAWA — Four cadets from the Royal Military College in SaintJean, Que., have been accused of desecrating a Qur’an with bacon and what a senior commander described as “bodily fluids.”

The alleged incident is said to have occurred during a cottage party involving a group comprised largely of first-year students from the military college.

“Four of those individuals went to sleep at some point and four other individuals stayed up and, unfortunately, desecrated a Qur’an,” said Lt.-Gen. Charles Lamarre, the chief of military personnel.

“They actually desecrated with, if I’m not mistaken, bodily fluids and there might have been bacon involved.”

Lamarre would not comment on the nature of the bodily fluids, but sources have told The Canadian Press that it appears to have been semen.

He said military commanders became aware of the desecration after videos were shown to other students, who subsequently reported the incident. “Those cadets took it upon themselves to report this up to the chain of command,” Lamarre said.

An investigation launched by the college commandant found reason to believe that the four cadets broke the military’s rules, but two have since appealed.

Lamarre said a specific unit within his office is reviewing the case, though he added that 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.”