- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
'A Koran in every home' project makes waves
Published: 11 Apr 12 09:46 CET | Print version
Updated: 11 Apr 12 12:46 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20120411-41865.html
A project by Salafist Muslims to give away 25 million German-language Korans across the country – by post and in town centres, has been slammed by a conservative politician calling it a disturbance of the religious peace.
- Many German Muslims 'refuse to integrate' - Society (1 Mar 12)
- Young Muslim criminals reoffend less often - Society (19 Feb 12)
- Islamic studies gain foothold in state schools - Education (22 Dec 11)
“Although there is in principle nothing against the distribution of religious texts,” he said, Die Welt reported he added that the radical Salafists were disturbing the religious peace with their aggressive methods.
The newspaper said that German intelligence services rated the campaign’s initiator Ibrahim Abou Nagie as a dangerous Salafist preacher.
His aim is to give away 25 million free German-language copies of the Koran to non-Muslims – his campaign is called “Read! In the name of your Lord who created you." Additional copies are also being distributed in Austria and Switzerland.
The Cologne-based preacher says the aim is to try to save people from eternal hell.
The project is being funded by Muslims who buy one Koran, which then funds the production of a second one to be given away and also by donations from wealthy people in Bahrain.
Die Welt said the first copies have already been given out – and that Abu Nagie claims to have given away more than 300,000 German-language Korans across the country already. People are also invited to order a free copy to be delivered by post.
The Easter weekend was the spark for a new phase, the paper said, with what it termed a “frontal offensive against the non- and other-believers”. Others might describe it as setting up stands in 35 town centres across the country and handing out free copies of the Koran.
The paper does admit that the version of the Koran is a moderate one – a translation by Mohammed Ibn Ahmad Rassoul with comments from the German convert Frank von Bubenheim and has been rated by intelligence agencies as not problematic.
Yet the Berlin state office for the protection of the constitution said, “Salafistism is strongly radicalising and is promoted by its followers as supposedly the only true Islam.”
The Local/hc
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Germany's collective blame phobia
The Germans have a particular phobia – they live in constant fear of being blamed for something. A commentary by Der Tagesspiegel's Malte Lehming. READ () »
First bison born in wild 'for centuries'
A wild bison has been born in Germany for the first time in centuries. The lead female of a herd released from captivity in April gave birth to the calf on May 5th, it was revealed on Tuesday. READ () »
Conservatives demand East German symbol ban
Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU) called on Tuesday for symbols associated with the totalitarian socialist regime of former East Germany to be banned, in the same way that it is illegal to display Nazi memorabilia. READ () »
States to toughen laws on drunken cycling
German state interior ministers are hashing out a plan to lower the amount of alcohol cyclists can legally consume before getting on their bikes. The measures come as figures show one in 10 bike accidents are the result of drunk riders. READ () »
The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek dies at 74
Ray Manzarek, co-founder of legendary 1960s rock band The Doors and creator of their signature organ sound, died on Monday in Germany after a long battle with cancer, his manager said. He was 74. READ () »
England fans decry 'German' football jersey
The new jersey for England’s national football team has sparked the ire of English fans for looking too much like the kit archrivals Germany wore when they won the World Cup in 1974. READ () »
'My friends call me travelling x-ray salesman'
In the latest installment of My German Career, The Local spoke with New Zealander physicist Graham Appleby about Hamburg's high intensity x-ray beams and life in Germany's scientific community. READ () »
Germany seeks 'visible' Kosovo-Serbia progress
Germany has called for "visible" progress in implementing a landmark deal between Serbia and Kosovo before securing Berlin's backing for Belgrade's bid to join the European Union. READ () »
- 21/05 The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek dies at 74 »
- 21/05 'My friends call me travelling x-ray salesman' »
- 20/05 20,000 Goths gather in Leipzig »
- 20/05 Pricey Reichstag visitor centre scrapped »
- 19/05 Did Merkel's politics hurt Germany at Eurovision? »
- 19/05 Wagner descendant slams composer »
- 18/05 Most Germans optimistic about the future »
- 18/05 Survey: Half of gays harassed in Germany »
- 17/05 No child support if dad is anonymous sperm donor »
- 16/05 Germany in for wet Whit weekend »
- 21/05 Far right figure kills himself at Notre Dame »
- 21/05 French ministers face grilling over tax scandal »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
- 21/05 Seven arrested over Stockholm's Husby riots »
- 21/05 'The future of freedom on the internet is at stake' »
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats -
Shiply Worldwide Ltd
Shiply the Online Transport Market Place -
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Weiss Institut
Free yourself from Smoking addictions, Sugar craving and Alcohol addictions -
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany
858 jobs available
568 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today
- MRI Scientist - Diagnostics & Biomedical Technologies (m/f)
- Application Engineer (professional level)
- Database Engineer with IAM knowhow (professional level)
- Manager for our Information Risk Management Team (m/f)
- Program Assistant (m/f)
- Assistant Student Office (f/m)
- Senior Consultant (w/m) Advisory mit Schwerpunkt Tax Performance and Advisory Services / Düsseldorf
- Social Media Practitioner/ Web-Master (m/f)
- Research Director, Telecoms, TV & Media
- Fulfilment Manager (m/f) - Marketing within FMCG sector
- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- Food trucks – meals on wheels
Small mobile restaurants are starting to catch on in Germany and they are often far more than your average snack wagons with Currywurst and Pommes. - “Preserve the proven, shape the new” – the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart
For more than thirty years, Helmuth Rilling shaped the international Bach Academy; now he is succeeded by Hans-Christoph Rademann. - ‘Open Mike’ – Fireworks with the Buddha
The Berlin ‘Open Mike’ entered this year its twentieth edition. - On the Stage, the Spoken Word Prevails
In January 2013 the annual meeting of the Dramaturgical Society took place in Munich; its theme: “Speaking on Stage – and about Theatre”... - The Magician of Images – Klaus Ensikat
With the technique of an Old Master and subtle humour, the award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Klaus Ensikat has for fifty years produced ingenious illustrations for literary classics and children’s books....
- Conference - Pioneers on Dual Training Abroad
Germany‘s system of dual training is one of the foundations of its economic strength. - The all-German final in Wembley
Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund are playing in the final of the Champions League at London’s Wembley Stadium. - German first feature film in Cannes
A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur. - Traveling Germany: Europa-Park
Think theme parks:Roller coasters, colorful rides, entertainment, thrills. Think Germany: Europa-Park is the largest amusement park in the country, second in Europe only to Disneyland Paris. - Frankfurt – the digital hub
The Internet hub in Frankfurt am Main is the largest in the world and places Germany in a leading position in the digital world.
- Theatre festival between the Saar and the Mosel
The Festival Perspectives in the German-French region around Saarbrücken is staging European theatre, dance and music productions. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. - Europe Day, Robert Schuman and Class 4a
Enthusiasm for the idea of Europe – in the 60th European Competition, schoolchildren from Germany show what this could look like. - Relief organizations
The portals presented here provide information on the help programs offered by different organizations.
- Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Program
- Design Engineer - Turbomachinery
- Design Engineer Aerospace in Toulouse
- Design Feasibility Engineer / Craftsmanship Engineer (m/f)
- HUMAN RESOURCES Graduate Trainee Program BEYOND BORDERS
- Lead Engineer - Combustion Engineering
- Lead Engineer - Product Lifecycle Management
- Lead Stress Engineer - Combustor
- Lead Stress Engineer - Rotor
- Lead Stress Engineer - Structures
- 19/05 Car Boot Sale Herford
- 17/05 paid internship
- 17/05 Florida resident seeks job in baden Baden Germany
- 17/05 Berlin Writing Group
- 17/05 cheap car hire
- 15/05 Queen size bed & frame
- 03:54 Calling all video gamers
- 02:05 Where to buy Heinz baked beans
- 00:48 The Good life!
- 00:24 Working from home in Germany: pros and cons
- 00:04 Let's cocktail! Ladies Night in Frankfurt =)
- 23:55 Registration of residence in Munich (Anmeldung)
- 23:21 Gyms with TRX suspension training
- 22:59 Lets Meet! 30+ Ladies Meet Up in Frankfurt@Daytime
- 22:36 Claiming tax deductions
- 22:34 Taking my daughter on holiday to Pakistan
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
So, while certain Saudi sponsored texts of the Holy Qu'ran are of questionable translation, I'd say, if you receive one, then just say, "Thank you." Put it on the shelf with the rest of the books to round out the titles on your library. If the spirit moves you to read it, great. If not, also great. Hint: you get to choose!
I can see this as turning into a giant book-burning exercise if the hype gets too much. Remember, a society that burns books is not far away from burning people too.
As Herr Ed says if you do not want it throw it in the trash be careful if you use it for fuel or a bon fire.
Of course, it would be nice if they first publicly declared they were going to burn the book and reflect on the likely response, before reading it.
Yes offering the public a free Koran is acceptable but forcing it on people by sending in the post is not acceptable. How then do we dispose of it with out giving the group of crazy people an excuse for their actions?
Unless of course everyone does a mass "return to sender".
To the people who make claims that "Protestants or Catholics killing people in response" need to review the history of what happened in the area of modern day Germany-Netherlands between about 1570s-1830s.
Second - criminal violence (aka "terrorism") is committed by individuals, and are not statements of whole communities, religious believers or ethnic groups. If it is, perhaps Germans need to explain why Germany has not overcome it's nazi past? Why do we now see Nazis in Germany again?
Also - the Nazis and the European radical right has exterminated vastly more people in the past 100 years of European history than "Islamist-jihadists" have...and are now threatening Europe again! The German intelligence services should be more concerned with neo-Nazis taking over whole regions of Germany than a preacher that wants to pass out Korans.
Again - yet another example of the increasing criminalization of legally protected, religious and political activity by Muslims - while at the same time NOTHING is being done about the REAL violence and potential for violence from the radicalized right-wing!
@ Ziggy2k12: That's right - if I went to Saudi Arabia and would try to distribute the Bible in public places they would not be very fond of what I am doing, but do we really have to get down to their low level of tolerance? - I don't think so.
@ Chango Mutney: I don't think that any European society will ever become an Islamic Republic - European societies will rather become atheist societies.
@ eslaporte: The primitive Nazis will luckily never become a significant part of the German society again just like the communists will luckily never become a significant part of the German society again.
Eslaporte - why stop with the last hundred years? Go back to Mohammed: he personally approved the massacre of jewish villages, he led Meidna in the slaughter of Mecca.
Of course, this gets to the root cause and contradictions of Islam as a religion of peace, when its founder had so many murdered. (And had a favorite camel, and had a favorite 12 year old girl, but we won't talk about that.)
I also have so many books i think are very important, i can send to your address, keep it for me for the rest of your life and later ask your children and grandchildren to safe keep them, if you have any.
fanatics... fox in sheep's clothing. People who use human rights to eliminate every other humans. People who use free speech and freedom of expression to gag others.
On second thought, your post is disturbing enough as it is. I do not think we even need to bother it.
I don't think the problem is with Islam's blood-stained past but with Islam's violent and bloody present. Islam currently seems to be at about the same level of insanity as 13th century Catholicism. Any cult which suggests that its followers should kill those who leave or who don't happen to follow their cult is hardly in line with European attitudes and laws with respect to freedom of religion.
Personally, I don't care if someone gives out copies of the Koran but it would be interesting to see what they would do if someone gave them a Bible in return.
We are being colonized bit by bit; those Europeans who facilitate the process are selling out the West.
For sure there are those that preach violence, I believe that group is minimum compared to the non violent sector.
It is a shame that the" war on terror" has mutated into a war on Islam.
of their disproportionate birth-rate or by their handing out of funny little pamplets.
The problem is that we stand and watch as malefic forces take root in our ancient territory.
Germany hasn't been warlike in the past without good reason, if you got yourself something thatś fine and well, others will covet it. And you'll have to move in and protect it!
And better don't wait til insults and signs of disrespect towards Germans, the Christian church and the western civilisation have become a commonplace-occurence.
The leader of that gang is going by on Hartz VI, by the way. Which means, I pay him.
Makes me want to vomit.
Here we go again, it is not long before a defender of barbaric, gynophobic, animalistic, oppressive islamofascist cultural rape attempts on Germany and in fact on Europe in general starts to accuse Germany of the Nazis (within 2 lines). Very shallow, but we don't expect more at all from a medieval fascist fossil with a foaming mouth.
The rest should indeed worry, this is exactly what they do, infiltrate a society on any excuse found, 1%, then 5%, they start to demand sovereign rights around 20%, see what happened to Kosovo, and bear in mind how sensitive our (your) pathetic apologist perversion of an otherwise great European culture is to exploitation by means of "equity", and "religious freedom".
I don't exactly see whether the apologist sheep fail to understand the process, or if they indeed wasnt to assimilate with medieval scum under Sharia Law, but if you tolerate, at all, let alone support the spread of a culture openly encouraging total, cattle level enslavement of women (read the Quran: Sura 8:13 for instance), oppression and slavery of non-believers (rendering khaffirs to become dhimmis or be killed), then you're not European yourself. Very simple, have you read the Quran? (I have). Do agree, or even accept ANYTHING of the islamofascist propaganda? If you do, you're a terrorist, on a cultural level at a very minimum, period.