Police investigate claim that officer threw Qur’an into rubbish bin

An investigation is under way into claims by a British Muslim man that a police officer desecrated his Qur’an by throwing it into a rubbish bin while arresting him, the Guardian has learned.

The incident is alleged to have happened last Monday in south London and the man also alleges he was assaulted while being detained at his home.

The allegation comes from Mohamed Osman, 29, who says the officer said “fuck you and your Qur’an” before grabbing the holy book and his prayer mat from him. The constable is then alleged to have thrown them into a nearby bin.

Guardian, 7 November 2005