BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - A Muslim Virginia Tech student says he was the person who left a burned Quran at a local mosque last month, saying it had been damaged in a fire and he hoped it could be given a respectful disposal. | I've got a few places in mind |
Police initially had said the case was being investigated as an anti-Muslim hate crime. The student contacted police last week, saying he was going to be traveling abroad and didn't know what to do with the Quran, which had been burned in a 2004 house fire, police Lt. Bruce Bradberry said Tuesday. The student said he placed the book and other fire-damaged materials in a bag and left the bag at the Islamic Center with a note, which apparently blew away. Muslims may properly dispose of a damaged Quran by respectfully burning it or shredding it, said Islamic Center director Sedki Riad. The student's name was not released.
Riad said local Muslims are relieved that anti-Islamic sentiments weren't involved. "There is nothing better than knowing that Blacksburg is what we expect it to be - a caring, friendly and supporting neighborhood," Riad told the Roanoke Times. The initial police report indicated there was more than one burned Quran, but Bradberry said it was one Quran with other burned items, including torn pages and book covers from other Arabic writings. |