Continued Provocation: Quran Desecration Reported in New York
In an unsettling incident that unfolded on Friday morning at approximately 1446 GMT (10:46 am local time), an individual, as yet unidentified, engaged in a disrespectful act involving a copy of the Quran, Islam's revered holy book. The occurrence took place outside the Turkish House, also known as Turkevi, located in New York City, according to a report by Anadolu Agency.
Promptly responding to the incident, security personnel stationed at the Turkish House swiftly exited the premises and intervened. The individual responsible for the act was promptly removed from the property.
The Turkish House serves as the host location for Türkiye's Consulate General and United Nations mission within the city.
The Quran subjected to this incident was confirmed to be an English translation of the holy text.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Diplomatic Security Unit (DSS) have been informed about the incident, according to the report.
A video recording circulating on various social media platforms captures the moment when an individual deliberately tossed the book to the ground, followed by an act of trampling upon it while vocally declaring, "This is a Quran."
It is worth noting that recent months have witnessed a concerning surge in incidents involving the burning and desecration of the Quran. Such actions have been attributed to individuals and groups holding racist and anti-Muslim sentiments, with a notable increase in occurrences documented primarily in Sweden and Denmark. These actions have been carried out purportedly under the banner of free speech.
Desecrating religious books may be considered a hate crime in the United States if it is motivated by bias or prejudice against a certain group of people based on their religion, race, ethnicity, or other characteristics. Hate crimes are punishable by federal and state laws, and may result in enhanced penalties for the offenders.
Source: Agencies
