A national Islamic group has called for an FBI investigation after a burned Quran, 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 by those opposed. 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 9/11, and comes on the heels of the Rev. Terry Jones’ plan to burn Qurans on the anniversary, which he later abandoned.