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[Jasup]

German police raided a salafist group "The True Religion" in November as the organization was banned for spreading hate using Islam as a pretext.

http://www.dw.com/en/police-make-ra...orters-across-10-states-in-germany/a-36395068

A string of raids were carried out across Germany early on Tuesday morning against suspected "Islamic State" (IS) sympathizers. According to news agency dpa, the raids took place in more than 200 homes and offices across 10 federal states.

Authorities carried out searches targeting individuals belonging to the "True Religion" Salafist group ("Die wahre Religion"), who have stirred up controversy for passing out a particularly fundamentalist translation of the Koran.

But now they have a dilemma on their hands:

http://www.dw.com/en/german-authorities-puzzled-over-koran-disposal/a-36956283

In one warehouse alone in the Cologne suburb of Pulheim, wrote German broadcaster WDR, some 22,000 of these controversial Korans sit wrapped in plastic. Emblazoned with the word "Lies!" which translates to "Read!" or "Read It," the books were removed from circulation for "spreading messages of hate and anti-constitutional ideologies," in the words of Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere.

[...]

But the ban does not solve the dilemma of how to properly get rid of thousands of books which contain Islam's holy scripture. According to WDR, the government of North Rhine-Westphalia has been in contact with Muslim leaders and experts in Islamic studies for a method of disposal that does not involve burning, shredding, or recycling the paper.

The traditional way to dispose of an old or desecrated Koran is to wrap it in a cloth and bury it, preferably somewhere hallowed and nowhere a person may accidentally walk over it. While some scholars say dropping it into flowing water or burning it is acceptable when burial is impossible, the first option presents logistical and environmental dilemmas while the latter evokes unsavory historical connotations.

As per WDR, the authorities are truly considering burying all the "Read!" Korans in the desert as the best way to get rid of a book that incites religious hatred and pay the proper amount of respect to the sanctity of the text for Muslims. A spokeswoman for the federal interior ministry told the broadcaster that no decisions have yet been made regarding the books as they continue to gather dust in warehouses across Germany.

More on the subject from DW:
http://www.dw.com/en/true-religion-how-salafists-lure-supporters/a-36398768
http://www.dw.com/en/salafists-dist...in-germany-after-true-religion-ban/a-36563043

 

[John Kowalski]

Lies translates to read?

 

[Dali]

"Lies!" which translates to "Read!" or "Read It,"

Lol, what?

This is some "Die Bart. Die" level of hilarity.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

Lies translates to read?

The German word for "to read" is "lesen," the imperative form of which is "lies."

 

[-Plasma Reus-]

Lies translates to read?

In german, the word lies means read?

 

[Dalibor68]

North Rhine-Westphalia has a social-democrat + green state government, for what it's worth.

Wont someone think of the salafists (who were behind the Lies! campaign)?

 

[WiiredShawn]

Lies translates to read?

Fiction is the lie that tells the truth?

 

[-Plasma Reus-]

North Rhine-Westphalia has a social-democrat + green state government, for what it's worth.

They should burn all of those copies, or simply wash the ink off of them.

No sane muslim will be offended.

 

[RustyNails]

The best way to properly dispose Quran is to burn it. It's already addressed in Islamic teachings.

 

[Regginator]

Most Muslims and Islamic scholars agree that respectfully burning old or almost destroyed Qurans is allowed.

https://islamqa.info/en/114932
http://islam.stackexchange.com/ques...arding-the-correct-methods-of-disposing-the-q
http://islam.about.com/od/quran/a/Disposal-Of-Quran.htm

 

[Timeaisis]

Just burn them.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

The best way to properly dispose Quran is to burn it. It's already addressed in Islamic teachings.

The article goes over why the authorities don't want to do that:

While some scholars say dropping it into flowing water or burning it is acceptable when burial is impossible, the first option presents logistical and environmental dilemmas while the latter evokes unsavory historical connotations.

 

[Burt]

Well, it's nice to hear that the German government is aware of the fact that the German government burning a minority's religious text en masse is a bad look.

Meanwhile in America:

"Look how well Japanese internment camps worked!"

 

[Jasup]

The best way to properly dispose Quran is to burn it. It's already addressed in Islamic teachings.

yes, but as is explained in the article the Germans don't really want to do that because of history.

 

[Rektash]

I vote the option that is easiest on the taxpayer.

 

[ClosingADoor]

How about we just recycle the paper? If anyone gets mad, too bad for them.

 

[AbsolutBro]

The article goes over why the authorities don't want to do that:

Yeah, I imagine they are not keen on evoking image of the Nazi book burnings, even if the Muslim leadership okays it.

 

[slider]

Hold on, is it just the Quran? If so, it can be reused right? My understanding is that the text is always the same. If it's changed it's sacrilegious and, I suppose, not actually a Quran.

Or is there added commentary to the normal text which makes it unpalatable for the masses??

 

[Dalibor68]

Police have confiscated tens of thousands of copies of a banned version of the Koran that came under fire for promoting religious hatred.

From the article. If it's a banned version that incites hatred then why would they even bother being considerate about it? I feel like there might be an error in translation though.

 

[Regginator]

The article goes over why the authorities don't want to do that:

yes, but as is explained in the article the Germans don't really want to do that because of history.

As long as it's done with "permission and blessings" of the German Muslim community, maybe even done by said community themselves, I don't think many Muslims would hold it against Germany. But I understand their dilemma.

 

[Transhuman]

But the ban does not solve the dilemma of how to properly get rid of thousands of books which contain Islam's holy scripture. According to WDR, the government of North Rhine-Westphalia has been in contact with Muslim leaders and experts in Islamic studies for a method of disposal that does not involve burning, shredding, or recycling the paper

.

 

[Bustanen]

They should call Atari, they know what to do.

 

[Night Angel]

They should burn all of those copies, or simply wash the ink off of them.

No sane muslim will be offended.

True, but no one is worried about the response of sane Muslims. Extremists, on the other hand...

 

[Woorloog]

Hold on, is it just the Quran? If so, it can be reused right? My understanding is that the text is always the same. If it's changed it's sacrilegious and, I suppose, not actually a Quran.

Or is there added commentary to the normal text which makes it unpalatable for the masses??

It is a salafist translation. It is not what average person, Muslim or not, reads.

.

Eating is arguably shredding.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

Hold on, is it just the Quran? If so, it can be reused right? My understanding is that the text is always the same. If it's changed it's sacrilegious and, I suppose, not actually a Quran.

Or is there added commentary to the normal text which makes it unpalatable for the masses??

My understanding is that the "Lies!" inscription on the front is what's troublesome.

From the article. If it's a banned version that incites hatred then why would they even bother being considerate about it? I feel like there might be an error in translation though.

The authorities don't want to give Muslims any reason to be angry at them.

 

[Regginator]

.

Hardy fucking har

 

[sphagnum]

.

This seems rather provocative.

 

[Rektash]

Hold on, is it just the Quran? If so, it can be reused right? My understanding is that the text is always the same. If it's changed it's sacrilegious and, I suppose, not actually a Quran.

Or is there added commentary to the normal text which makes it unpalatable for the masses??

I don't think the german government is interested in giving away free copies of the Koran. Actually I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't allowed to give away any religious texts period. This is a secular country we are speaking about here.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

.

When did you change your handle, Dennis?

 

[Bold One]

Lol, what?

This is some "Die Bart. Die" level of hilarity.

 

[Dalibor68]

The authorities don't want to give Muslims any reason to be angry at them.

That is ridiculous, so we're appeasing salafists now?

(assuming this is true)

It is a salafist translation. It is not what average person, Muslim or not, reads.

 

[Red Liquorice]

It's these kind of meaningless little rules and minutiae that need sweeping out from religions.

 

[Jasup]

Hold on, is it just the Quran? If so, it can be reused right? My understanding is that the text is always the same. If it's changed it's sacrilegious and, I suppose, not actually a Quran.

Or is there added commentary to the normal text which makes it unpalatable for the masses??

It's a translation, but translations can be done in a way that really skew the original text. You might remember the Conservapedia's "Conservative Bible Project" that sought to remove liberal bias from the Bible, with unsurprising results. We're talking about a sort of a similar thing here.

 

[Heshinsi]

Well I mean if the words are different from the regular Quran people use, according to Islamic laws it ain't the Quran anymore. I say ship the crates to Saudi Arabia with a note that starts with, "look at you've helped facilitate", and let them dispose of them.

 

[TimeEffect]

Get a Muslim to burn it?

 

[RoadHazard]

Just burn the fucking things. If they're fundamentalist translations that the majority of Muslims don't agree with, surely it's not the "true" Koran?

Burn them.

 

[Trojita]

They are overthinking it.

A proper way to dispose of them is to burn it. Get with the leaders of the religion in Germany, have it acknowledged that they are just burning an altered version of the Quran and be done with it.

Burying is for actual Qurans.

 

[Hagi]

Why can't they just recycle them?

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Just burn the fucking things. If they're fundamentalist translations that the majority of Muslims don't agree with, surely it's not the "true" Koran?

Burn them.

 

[Mivey]

Can't paper be just recycled? Seems more environmentally aware.

 

[RiZ III]

If it's just translations of the Quran, why not just hand them over to some mosque or Muslim organization? If we raided the Westboro group and confiscated their Bibles, I doubt the government would just burn them.

Edit: So apparently these are Salafist translations. I wonder how distorted they could really be.

 

[Rektash]

If it's just translations of the Quran, why not just hand them over to some mosque or Muslim organization? If we raided the Westboro group and confiscated their Bibles, I doubt the government would just burn them.

Edit: So apparently these are Salafist translations. I wonder how distorted they could really be.

Look at islamic extremism and there is your answer. And that is via interpretation, not translation. It is easy to translate something in a way that fits your interpretation.

 

[Transhuman]

Eating is arguably shredding.

http://islam.about.com/od/quran/a/Disposal-Of-Quran.htm

This website says shredding is okay as long as it's shredded finely, and burning is ok too.

Though honestly, if the translation incites religious hatred, who cares how the books are disposed of. If the Quaran is a book of peace, this isn't one.

 

[Earthstrike]

Just burn the fucking things. If they're fundamentalist translations that the majority of Muslims don't agree with, surely it's not the "true" Koran?

Burn them.

Was just about to make this argument but see you posted it first. This would be a good measure, and it should be put out in a statement. See how many muslims get angry or protest at such a response.

 

[BajiBoxer]

My first thought would be to put out a statement to say ISIS sympathizers were distributing fake koran's, then recycle them.

 

[Heshinsi]

Was just about to make this argument but see you posted it first. This would be a good measure, and it should be put out in a statement. See how many muslims get angry or protest at such a response.

And the ones that get pissed off even after being informed of how the translations were dececrated, are the ones the authorities need to keep an eye on.

 

[smokeandmirrors]

They are overthinking it.

A proper way to disposes is to burn it. Get with the leaders of the religion in Germany, have it acknowledged that they are just burning an altered version of the Quran and be done with it.

Burying is for actual Qurans.

seems like the best idea here.

 

[gutter_trash]

how about not telling the public about how they will dispose of them?

why the need to tell everybody what you are going to do with the books?

 

[Jumeira]

yes, but as is explained in the article the Germans don't really want to do that because of history.

It's best if Muslim leaders do it i guess?

 

[Count Dookkake]

Invite local mosques to destroy them.

If no one wants to, then just recycle them.

The government should not be responsible for burying the books in a religiously-approved manner.