‘Bullet-riddled’ Quran found outside Islamic clothing shop in Southern California

A “bullet-riddled” copy of the Quran found outside an Islamic clothing shop

A “bullet-riddled” copy of the Quran found outside an Islamic clothing shop has sparked an FBI investigation into, what has been described as, a “possible hate crime”.

An American Muslim institute said the owner of Al-Farah Islamic Clothing in Anaheim, California, discovered an English translation of the Quran pierced with multiple holes, alleged to be bullet holes, in the shop’s letter box.

Police said they did not find a note or any threat attached to the Quran.

Responding to the incident, American Muslim figures said that anyone has the right to be a bigot, but when that bigotry is expressed through the targeting of individuals or businesses through acts of intimidation similar to a cross burning it crosses the line into criminal behavior.

He added: “if you shoot up a Quran on your own property that is bigoted freedom of expression. If you deliver that bullet-riddled Quran to a Muslim home or business, that is an act of intimidation and hate crime.”