A U.S. general apologized on Wednesday after the military dropped leaflets containing “insensitive” religious materials in Parwan Province on Tuesday.
“The design of the leaflets mistakenly contained an image highly offensive to both Muslims and the religion of Islam,” wrote Maj. Gen. James Linder, head of Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan. “I sincerely apologize. We have the deepest respect for Islam and our Muslim partners worldwide.”
According to Reuters, the leaflet depicted a passage from the Quran that was superimposed over the image of a dog. Islam considers dogs unclean, and many were angry about the use of the image in the context of the Quran’s sacred texts.
File under: how to deliberately lose a counter-insurgency campaign in Afghanistan in 1 leaflet. pic.twitter.com/48G5G88kAw
— Weddady (@weddady) September 6, 2017
Linder said there is “no excuse” and said he was reviewing the procedures that allowed the leaflet drop to take place.
“Resolute Support remains committed to Afghanistan’s future, and I offer my sincerest apologies for this error,” he added. Operation Resolute Support is the overarching international NATO mission in Afghanistan.
Reuters quoted Mohammad Hasem, governor of Parwan, who called for an investigation.
“Those who have committed this unforgivable mistake in the publicity, propaganda or media section of the coalition forces will be tried and punished,” he said.
