By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada: Three military cadets in officer training will likely be expelled from the Canadian Forces after desecrating a Quran with bacon and “bodily fluids,” authorities said Friday.

The incident, which occurred during the Easter long weekend, came to light after four cadets involved showed a video of the desecration to fellow cadets.

The latter then reported the incident to higher command and Friday, a statement from the military said two cadets were told their release will be recommended while another will be drummed out for unsatisfactory performance.

The fourth cadet received a warning and will undergo counselling.

“Such misconduct goes against our core beliefs and is not tolerated, especially at RMC (Royal Military College) Saint-Jean (Quebec), where our future leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces are trained and educated,” the statement read.

Canadian Forces member will not be tolerated, student or not. “Such misconduct goes against our core beliefs and is not tolerated, especially at RMC Saint-Jean,” Lieutenant General Charles Lamarre, chief of military personnel.

“Can you imagine if these young people had remained in the army and weren’t found out? They would have become lieutenants, colonels, generals,” Quebec Imam Guillet said. “The army did what it needed to do, and the message is clear.”

But the incident remains troubling for the Forces, which has also had to deal with reports that some of its soldiers are supporters of the far-right Quebec group La Meute, reported The Globe and Mail. Imam Guillet said the desecration is also disturbing because the act of bringing the Qur’an to the cottage party suggests premeditation.

“It certainly wasn’t brought along so they could do prayers,” he said. He called the act “an insult, an affront to our very presence in the army, and an affront to Canadian values.”

Imam Guillet said the incident is also evidence of anti-Muslim sentiment within the military. “There is a small minority that is dangerous and we have to unite to identify it and isolate it. We have to reassure Muslims and say: ’Don’t worry. You are part of society and you are welcome in the army as soldiers.”

The video, which was not posted on social media, has been destroyed.

The three cadets are appealing the military’s decision to oust them and a final ruling will come near the middle of June, according to unnamed Department of National Defense sources.

Additional report by The Muslim News

[Map of Canada By Shaundd/Creative Commons]