US commander apologizes for drop of ‘highly offensive’ leaflets in Afghanistan

A top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has apologized for a “highly offensive” leaflet that was distributed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan’s Parwan Province in the country’s northeast.

The leaflet is considered offensive to Muslims and contains a passage from the Quran used in Taliban banners superimposed on an image of a dog. It urges people to report insurgents in the region. 

Dogs are considered unclean in Islam, and associating a passage from the Quran with the animal sparked controversy, according to Reuters.

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“I sincerely apologize,” Major Gen. James Linder said in a statement on Wednesday. “We have the deepest respect for Islam and our Muslim partners worldwide.”

“There is no excuse for this mistake,” he continued. “I am reviewing our procedures to determine the cause of this incident and to hold the responsible party accountable. Furthermore, I will make appropriate changes so this never happens again.”

Parwan Gov. Mohammad Hasem called the distribution of the leaflet “unforgivable,” according to Reuters, and said whoever was responsible for it would be “tried and punished.”

U.S. troops also stirred outrage in 2012 after copies of the Quran were burned at Bagram Air Base. That incident prompted protests in Afghanistan that left dozens of people dead.