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2 Afghans Face Death Over Koran Translation

Clerics say book aims to replace holy text

By the Associated Press

Posted Feb 6, 2009 11:23 AM CST
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(AP) – A pocket-size translation of the Koran has landed six men in prison in Afghanistan and left two of them begging judges to spare their lives. They're accused of modifying the Koran, and their fate could be decided Sunday in court. The trial illustrates what critics call the undue influence of hardline clerics in Afghanistan, a major hurdle as the country tries to establish a lawful society amid war and militant violence, the AP reports.
 

Conservative Muslim clerics rejected the book because it did not include the original Arabic verses, regarded as the word of God, alongside the translation. They said the man who commissioned the printing was trying to anoint himself as a prophet and replace, not just translate, the Koran. Afghanistan has no law forbidding the translation of the Koran, but the courts may apply Islamic Sharia law when no secular statutes pertain.

Six Afghan defendants, including Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai, second left rear, are seen during a trial in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2009.
Six Afghan defendants, including Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai, second left rear, are seen during a trial in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
IAfghan demonstrators protest against Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai, a man accused of insulting the Quran by misinterpreting the holy book, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, November 2007.
IAfghan demonstrators protest against Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai, a man accused of insulting the Quran by misinterpreting the holy book, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, November 2007.   (Rahmat Gul)
Afghan demonstrators protest against Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai, a man accused of insulting the Quran by misinterpreting the holy book, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, November 2007.
Afghan demonstrators protest against Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai, a man accused of insulting the Quran by misinterpreting the holy book, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, November 2007.   (Rahmat Gul)
Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai, left, who got the books printed, is seen with Afghan cleric Qari Mushtaq Ahmad, who verified the translation is correct, during a trial in Kabul, Jan. 11, 2009.
Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai, left, who got the books printed, is seen with Afghan cleric Qari Mushtaq Ahmad, who verified the translation is correct, during a trial in Kabul, Jan. 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
A copy of the pocket-size translation of the Quran is seen on the table during the trial of Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2009.
A copy of the pocket-size translation of the Quran is seen on the table during the trial of Ahmad Ghaws Zalmai in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
MarkFL
Feb 7, 2009 1:58 AM CST
Death for translation? Mission Accomplished! I, too have a translation of the Koran, the Bible, and any other holy book. "Old news, mostly lies, a lot of people get killed by God, you are despicable and evil, and God will love you. Oh yeah and God also hates you too. And ye who translate this will burn forever more than everyone else." I added that last part but the rest is extremely accurate. Seriously, I recommend reading these holy books from cover to cover. It is guaranteed to make you an atheist! If this death sentence is shocking to you, it would not be if you have read the Koran. Nice job Afghanistan! I hope someone in Afghanistan can see what this looks like from the outside and be totally shamed by this. ... Doubt it!
xomko
Feb 6, 2009 3:36 AM CST
Next time you pass the city center stop in the public library and research just how many christians were charged as heretics and executed by their religious leaders just for translating the bible into english.
Guest
Feb 6, 2009 2:31 AM CST
The point is your generalizing a religion without considering any other factors.

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Afghanistan • death penalty • Islam • trial • Islamic Sharia law • Muslim • Koran • translation • cleric • Bill Maher Grid

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