EAST LANSING - Police on Monday continued to investigate the source of a burned Quran found over the weekend at the Islamic Center of East Lansing and announced they are stepping up patrols around the mosque.
A spokesman for the mosque said he was disappointed to hear that a mob in the Indian city of Malerkotla burned a Christian church in retaliation when they heard of the Quran incident here.
"It is actually specifically written in the Quran, do not desecrate any religious house, religious book, anything that has to do with anybody's faith or religion," said Dr. Abdalmajid Katranji, spokesman for the Islamic Center. "That's not how God wants to be respected."
Katranji said he would even be willing to donate to rebuild the Christian church in India, and called on India's Muslim community to help with that effort, as well.
The burned Quran was discovered early Saturday near the mosque on South Harrison Road. Scattered pages were partially burned, shredded or smeared with feces.
The incident came after a controversial Florida pastor agreed to cancel a planned Quran burning on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
A Quran that had been burned and shot also was discovered over the weekend in Tennessee.
Sandra Berchtold, spokeswoman for the FBI's Detroit office, said the office continues to assess the situation.
East Lansing Police Chief Tom Wibert said the department continues its investigation, and continues a stepped-up police presence in the area around the mosque.
"We have officers in and out throughout the parking lot," he said. He said MSU police are assisting with that effort.
The East Lansing City Council and leaders of the mosque Monday issued a joint response condemning the East Lansing incident.
About 350 people gathered at East Lansing's All Saints Episcopal Church Saturday for a Quran reading, designed as a response to the planned Quran burning in Florida.
Katranji said he appreciated that event, and leaders of the Greater Lansing Islamic Society, which operates the Islamic Center, hope to build more bridges with other faith groups in coming weeks and months.
"There has to be respect, tolerance and cooperation," he said.
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