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Turkey Rounds Up Experts to Revise Islam

Reformers hope work will wrench religion from extremists

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 27, 2008 3:04 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Ankara has gathered a team of experts to parse through Muhammad's words and deeds and decode them for modern-day Muslims, McClatchy Newspapers reports. Their planned 5-volume set will point out anachronisms—no, Muslims need not brush their teeth with a twig—and will likely remove lines about women being bad luck or stupid. "Those definitely cannot be the words of the prophet," one scholar said.

One British expert said the project will be "somewhat akin to the Christian Reformation."
But Reformers in Turkey hope the venture will wrench Islam from extremists and show the world Muhammad's good side. "This may help to take the words of the prophet from the hands of people who are using them to legitimize their bad deeds," one official said.

Pro-Islamic demonstrators chant slogans in Istanbul, during a protest against a decision by the Constitutional Court to hear a case for a ban on the Islamic-rooted ruling party.
Pro-Islamic demonstrators chant slogans in Istanbul, during a protest against a decision by the Constitutional Court to hear a case for a ban on the Islamic-rooted ruling party.   (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)
The minarets of the Blue Mosque seen across Istanbul's rooftops. A reinterpretation of Islam in Turkey has been compared by some to the Protestant Revolution.
The minarets of the Blue Mosque seen across Istanbul's rooftops. A reinterpretation of Islam in Turkey has been compared by some to the Protestant Revolution.   (Newser)
Turkish Shiite Muslim girls wearing white take part in a gathering to mark the spring festival of Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, March 21, 2008.
Turkish Shiite Muslim girls wearing white take part in a gathering to mark the spring festival of Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, March 21, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)
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Islam • Turkey • religion • reform • Muhammad • religious scholars

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