Template:QuranRelated The term "Qur'an desecration" is defined as insulting the Qur'an (Koran), by defiling or defacing it.

Most traditional schools of Islamic law dictate that a Muslim may not touch the Qur'an, which is regarded as the literal word of God in its untranslated Arabic form, unless he or she is in a state of ritual purity (wudu). Muslims must always treat the book with reverence, and are forbidden, for instance, to pulp, recycle, or simply discard worn-out copies of the text; instead, burning or burying the worn-out copies in a respectful manner is required. ^[1] Respect for the written text of the Qur'an is an important element of religious faith in Islam. Intentionally insulting the Qur'an is regarded as a form of blasphemy. Desecrating a copy of the Qur'an is punishable by imprisonment in some countries (life imprisonment in Pakistan, according to Article 295-B of the Penal Code) and has been punishable by death in Afghanistan and Pakistan.^[2][3]

In mid-2005, allegations of deliberate desecration of the Qur'an^[2] in front of Muslim prisoners at the United States military base in Guantanamo Bay fueled a widespread controversy and were blamed for deadly Muslim riots. A US military investigation confirmed 4 instances of Qur'an desecrations by US personnel (2 of which were described as "unintentional"), and 15 instances of desecration by Muslim prisoners. ^[4] According to CBC News, "The statement did not provide any explanation about why the detainees might have abused their own holy books." ^[5]

In May 2005, a report in Newsweek (9 May 2005), claiming that U.S. interrogators desecrated the Qur'an at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), led to deadly Muslim protests sparked by the article.^[2]

In 2007, a Nigerian Christian teacher, Christianah Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin, was stabbed to death after allegations she had desecrated a Qu'ran.^[6]

In 2010, Rev Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center, a church in Gainesville, Florida, provoked international condemnation after announcing plans to burn a Qu'ran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.^[7]. The plans were subsequently cancelled. ^[8]

• "Newsweek says Koran desecration report is wrong", David Morgan, Reuters (Washington, DC), 15 May 2005, webpage: WTFrep-185 (access 2009-12-03).
• Afghan protest over 'burnt Koran', BBC, 25 October 2009.