Seems as if they don’t take to kindly to acts of kindness.
I feel so sorry for those people, to have to live their whole lives in such a hostile enviroment, living in fear of their blood lusting retarded leaders, fear of each other and worse - to fear their own God.

Lynne,

Indeed, it is very sad. But it’s not their secular leaders, it’s their religious leaders. fundamentalist Islam and those who believe in Shari’ah law, all live in fear. I refuse to believe in that kind of God.

Beleiving in Sharia is Sth and promoting ur own false ideas as Sharia is Sth Else. In the current scenerio where a country has its legislative bodies functioning, what’s the need for having such courts settle issues.

I know Ghaws Zalmay myself, he is a nice guy with moderate views.

And hopefully the civil society will run for his rescue.

Beleiving in Sharia is Sth and promoting ur own false ideas as Sharia is Sth Else. In the current scenerio where a country has its legislative bodies functioning, what’s the need for having such courts settle issues.

I know Ghaws Zalmay myself, he is a nice guy with moderate views.

And hopefully the civil society will run for his rescue.

Ikramuddin, according to the article I read, apparently the legislative bodies (including all the judges) are afraid they too will be condemned for standing up for Zalmai.

He claims he had a terrible time trying to find someone willing to defend him and has lost most of his friends. I hope you are right, about people coming to his rescue, but it doesn’t seem likely. And the main point is he shouldn’t be in this position to begin with. A simple mistake (though I think it’s bogus to even consider it a mistake) should not even warrant jail time, let alone the death penalty.

How sad and pathetic that this man was trying to bring the Koran to Afghanis who don’t speak Arabic, and for that he is condemned to death.

Zalmai is not all that innocent;and your blog as usual is unethical reporting as it has omitted important facts.

The main issue is that the translation was funded by money from someone in the USA,and in this case many verses of the holy Quran were mistranslated.Afghan Parliamentarians have themselves accused this Afghan official of misinterpreting the Muslim holy book on many issues including homosexuality and adultery in his translation into Dari, the second most used language in Afghanistan.

There is a process involved in printing a translation of The Quran in Afghanistan. I believe it is the Ministry of Education that goes over the material first before giving a green light for its printing.

Ghaws Zalmai has lived in Afghanistan for too long not to be aware of such processes considering his involvement with Afghan TV and literary work. He should have known very well that in the face of discrepancies found in the content, he would be found responsible and accountable. He should have known to check it with scholars of the Quran, Arabic language and Dari language before going ahead with it.

Muslims have ensured that the Holy Quran has remained distortion free for the last 1500 years only because they take any attempts to change the original as well as translations very seriously.

I would agree that if he has in fact mistranslated he needs to be given at least life imprisonment........it would be best however if they could chop off his head with a sword -by far the most painless way of execution;but alas we live in the modern age and an electric chair is considered more appropriate.Wonder though if Afghanistan has an electric chair.

@Hassan

Do you mean to say Incognito has deliberately omitted the important facts to give a twist to this tale and present Islamic Sharia in a bad light??

If this is the case then its very bad, because no one should take so much pain and post/publish an article just to vent his/her hatred for a particular/religion/ideology/code of conduct/...

Actually, I don’t have any knowledge about this incident, so I’m requesting you to provide some links that present the true story and support your words...so that we all get an idea that Incognito indeed is twisting words.

I also would request Incognito to provide links to support her claims and prove that her article is reporting accurate facts.

Come on guys, get real and make a habit of furnishing proofs when you assert something or blame someone. That certainly helps the community... and will also prevent the lame comments that generally follow any such remarks.

Waiting for the links, Hassan and Incognito...

@Incognito

Actually, when I asked you for a link, I meant other links, if you had any, to support the ’parent article’. That would have given more weightage to your article.

Anyway, if thats ridiculous for you, then I apologize for spoiling your mood.

However, if you come out of your anti-Muslim shell and scan my previous comment, you will easily gather the direction of my pointer because I believe that condemning ANYONE to death for ANYTHING (that includes committing a crime such as murder) is hideous.

And, its really shameful for me that so many in the west have troubles with my religion. However, I’m glad I have no problems whatsoever with ANY religion (including yours), in any situation... in spite of witnessing so many wrong-doings by the followers of those religions.

This religion is based on Quran and any attempt to misinterprete its verses is like an attempt to change the whole religion and anyone who tries to do that MUST be punished. This is not the first one who tried to change Quran. It was found out that the two
American printing companies;’Omega 2001’ and ’Wine Press’ are involved in the publishing of ’The True Furqan’, a book which has also been titled ’The 21st Century Quran’! They have been fighting this religion. To change the teachings of a religion as Zalmai tried to do is a crucial crime to the humanity since Islam is the only TRUE religion and the last Divine message. What others may find as ”rediculous” is not as what we may find it. When Bush invaded Iraq in the christianity’s name that was okay and not barbarism but when someone tried to change the WHOLE FAITH with a fake interpretation of Quran then it’s okay. This is what I find as REDICULOUS.

Incognito,

The bottom line is that Here you are not allowed to do so. A voice of moderation still needs to enter this conservative society. You know what? Most of the people even don’t know the translation of the Holy Book. They just learn how to read the arabic version and that’s it. A more rationalistic approach has never prevailed in this part of the world for long, they have always been silenced for one or the other reason. What the clerics say is deemed to be true by the common man. And they believe that what they say is ’the high way” and in this they forget the plurality of interpretation throug out the Muslim History. Interpretations are so diverse that a verse translated in afghanistan is not necessarily understood in the same manner in Iran or Kazakhistan or any other country. Arabs themselves differ on a good number of verses. In fact, the plurality of interpretation exists even within a single sect.
Here one needs to understand that pluralism which exist in the nature of Koran rather than rushing and deciding to condemn someone to death who by no means or intentions want any such kinda scrap to happen.

IC.

“Hassan, I find it absolutely BARBARIC, that anyone would even suggest someone deserves to have his head chopped off or even to be jailed for life for such a RIDICULOUS reason. You just prove my point, Hassan, that even moderates like you are to be feared and that your religion is intolerant and violent and uncivilized……. In a civilized society no-one is put to death or deserves to be put to death unless they have killed someone”.

What you may find Barbaric or not has nothing to do with Islam’s laws. The law is clear, anyone who distorts ‘The word of God’ is the biggest criminal- he is worse then a murderer of a single human being because he is attempting to kill –or even muddle up- the truths and beliefs of an entire community .So in a Muslim community –least of all one who calls himself Muslim- has to abide with it or face the consequences. What I find barbaric is your inability to allow Muslims to practice their own law. By the way this so termed by you barbaric religion (intolerant and violent and uncivilized) is the only one which 1500 years back gave women all the rights I mentioned – and I am still waiting for the blog you promised on the subject- and also the only religion which disagrees with your contention that: “In a civilized society no-one is put to death or deserves to be put to death unless they have killed someone”. Islam gave the ruling 1500 years back that even in this case it would be better if the aggrieved party forgave and accepted blood money- however they have a right to opt for killing the murderer if they so desire. No doubt when Muhammad (pbuh) announced this ruling many people considered him crazy for saying so!!

“And if I have omitted facts, you PROVE to me YOUR points by providing links, as I have provided a link”.Maam please read again what I stated and perhaps your ire may appear to yourself to be unfounded. “Your blog as usual is unethical reporting as it has omitted important facts”. So what I am saying is it is unethical because you just linked to an article which gave one side of the story, and rushed to write your blog without in the least mentioning the other side of the story. It is immaterial if this is deliberate or not-it is still unprofessional and unethical blogging.

Aneez is quite correct in asking me to prove my allegations, and thinks you have done a foul deed indeed if you have failed to or ignored the other side. Your statement “I read an article, formed an opinion and commented on it” and further saying “…Other links to support the parent article, like what, may I ask? Something from an Afghani paper, which would do me no good since I don’t read any of their languages?’ is a lame excuse. Just Google ‘Ghaws Zalmai and Quran” and you will find articles giving both sides of the story. Here I give the results for two Afghan/Muslim sites : Faulty Quran Translation Irks Afghans http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1193049444454&pagename=Zone-English-News%2FNWELayout and Parliament says Dari version divides Muslims .Quran translation causes uproar in Afghanistan http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2007/11/04/41210.html . Now that I have given the links you asked for I hope you will find the grace to accept you rushed to publish your blog knowing only one side of the story.

Now as to why Islam is so strict about this law; it is only to ensure that no despot or ruler or priest or crank pot out to make a quick buck or mislead an entire people is allowed to play with the word of God – or if you insist - what is believed amongst them to be the word of God. You will realize what can happen, if you study what happened to The Holy Bible. No original manuscript exists now, and the existing versions differ hugely even from the translated of translated earlist manuscripts held ;and are almost as numerous as the number of priests – with more coming out each year. And here is an example of what is being done to the Bible by the money makers: “A filmmaker who recently released an independent project about a formula that turns all heterosexuals into ”gays” now has announced he’s working on ”The Bible” in which ”God” ordains homosexuality as the better lifestyle. ”There are many different versions of the Bible; I don’t see why we can’t have one,” stated Max Mitchell in a statement on a website for his new project. The ”gay Bible,” produced by the New Mexico-based Revision Studios, states God instructs ”it is better to be gay than straight.” Mitchell said he developed the idea for the ”Bible” from his new movie’. project,... http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/blasphemy/index

Madam you yourself say, “But Zalmai did not personally translate it... and the cleric of the mosque (who has also been condemned to death) also did not translate it … no-one knows who translated it”. Precisely …….. If I was the judge that would be sufficient to prove his mischief, and I would order his hanging/beheading/electric chairing/gas chambering!!! The man does not know who translated and rushes to get 1000 copies printed for distribution!!! Most intriguing…and I am ofcourse not at all surprised that you saw nothing remiss in this!

So thank you so much for your civilized behavior; but I would very much prefer to retain the law which has ensured that my version of the Holy Quran is 100% (word for word) as the one read by my first Muslim ancestor 1500 years ago….and so I repeat …. ‘off with the foul creature’s head (but only if he has really distorted our The Holy Quran).On second thought I might consider showing real mercy and forgiveness and agree to life imprisonment.

And finally Madam you say: “But I will criticize any faith I please, if I see problems”…… and madam I see many serious problems with Christianity; so much so that Christians in droves have deserted it; yet I have never to date criticized the way westerners criticize Islam- only because we have to answer for our faiths to God individually ;I do not think God will judge socities or cultures collectively.So I must suspect the intentions and nature of those individuals trying to best God by judging whole socities.Why should it bug me what Christians believe or practice –and how will it help me,except to hurt their feelings if I tell them unasked what is evil in them? This madam may I suggest is truly civilized behavior.

@ Aneez .I am quite sure she has not done so deliberately; but she has rushed to post here comments or blog terming Islam all sorts of vile things, only because her education has conditioned her to think so, and so she perhaps felt overjoyed and rushed to circulate something she believed supported her thinking without reading both sides of the picture. Can’t blame her we all do. What I find amusing is her insistence on printing such one sided hate based comments as part of her freedom of speech –and calling it correct. While if I ask for ‘chopping the man’s head off’ as part of punishment for violating the law the man himself accepts she attacks my freedom of speech as ‘Barbarious’.Is freedom of speech only granted or enshrined for ‘western ladies’?

@ Taha .don’t bother I have given IC the links she asked you for, lets see how she handles these….and as you can see I agree fully with your comment: “This religion is based on Quran and any attempt to misinterpret its verses is like an attempt to change the whole religion and anyone who tries to do that MUST be punished. This is not the first one who tried to change Quran. It was found out that the two American printing companies;’ Omega 2001’ and ’Wine Press’ are involved in the publishing of ’The True Furqan’, a book which has also been titled ’The 21st Century Quran’! They have been fighting this religion. To change the teachings of a religion as Zalmai tried to do is a crucial crime to the humanity since Islam is the only TRUE religion and the last Divine message. What others may find as”ridiculous” is not as what we may find it.

I will only amplify your comment : “since Islam is the only TRUE religion and the last Divine message”.Saying Islam is the only TRUE religion hurts the pride of others.We must explain when ever stating this that the word Islam means ‘truly submitting to God’s will” which is what their religion also states;and which their religion would also be if there were not constantly changing God’s goal posts themselves by modifying their religion in all ages – thus moulding God’s wills to their desires instead of submitting to Him.Also please remember God’s message to humanity through all his numerous prophets has always been the same ;and so it is the first as well as will remain the last Divine message.This is because God willed we will not allow any one to change it.hence yet again the strict law for those who attempt to change it.


@ Ikramuddin. “In fact, the plurality of interpretation exists even within a single sect”.Dont try to confuse the matter; if you know your Arabic you would know that plurity of interpretation is quite another subject. As far as translation of the Quran is concerned it has to do with the large number of meanings the Arabic word has related to other languages. That is why the insistence on the original Arabic also being written in any translation –so that an obvious distortion can be readily proved. Here we are speaking of this very distortion or changing the meanings of the words – and according to the story it is the Afghan parliament which itself accused the official of distorting The Quran.

Hi Steve,

On certain things Muslims will not make any compromise at all; and the fore most amongst them is attempts to distort even the translations of the holy Quran-leave alone the original Arabic version. Typo errors,miss pronouncements, incorrect recitations do not fall under such penalties; it is only deliberate attempts at mischief which do-and must always continue to incur – harsh penalties. See my comment above for the reason why.

In this case the issue is wrong reporting. Two versions of the story originated from Kabul; one originated by Reuters is the one portion of which IC reproduced in her blog.The other is from Kabul sources the link to which I give in my above comment.

The first emphasizes the goodness of a man who wanted to make translations of the Holy Quran in Dari available to his fellow Dari speakers –and the insanity of those who would want him killed for merely failing to reproduce the original Arabic text along with it. If you Google the name of the person you find 6 whole pages of sites carrying this story either in full or in portions from the Reuters story. The story from Kabul sources is carried by only 2 or at most three sites. It puts an entirely different complexion on the matter and states that the man has changed the actual meaning of the verses specially relating to homo sexuality and some other such things; that the Afghan parliament itself debated the matter and accused the man of this.

You tell me why the Reuters version is so gleefully cited as an example of Muslim intolerance by so many western sources and the Kabul version ignored? It is important to know that even in Afghanistan-and all over the Muslim world- many translations are being sold with out the original Arabic-however they are termed translations of and not the holy Quran itself. So the first story obviously plays with facts to present a wrong picture.

As for Is America so bad??? I do not know if you are a practicing Christian. But if I remember one of the holy Jesus’’ sayings: “Call no man good, only God is good”. The American people are as good or as bad as the rest of us, which means the average citizen is good and peace loving …and God will judge on the appointed day. But you do know that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely? And thus the American government has been corrupted and is evil. It has drifted far from the charter framed by its founding fathers; leave alone the teachings of Christ.

Now as for the American people they are certainly most naïve…and they expect the whole world to be so. Do you really believe that America loved Europe and Kosovo, or Afghanistan, or Iraq or even Mogadishu so much that they were willing to sacrifice their sons for them? In three of these four places we fought along with you; how can we hate you? Remember in Mogadishu we came to the American rescue when on October 4, 1993, at 6:30 AM. American forces were finally evacuated to the UN’s Pakistani base by an armored convoy along “Mogadishu Mile.” And in Kosovo even before the US troops came Arab and Islamic Mujahideen had almost routed the opposition(backed by CIA and USA of course as in Afghanistan) .It is arguable that Osama bin laden and Al-Qaeda’s rift with USA dates from the US offensive as it prevented the establishment of the whole country as a Muslim state. In Europe what the Europeans lost and what they gained – there are enough western authored books giving all points of views.

But I prefer to remain a realist .The fact is that every people fight a war for their own interests –and know that Americans have done, and are doing no different. This bull shit about fighting for others people freedom I beg to be excused from swallowing.

@ Hassan

What I find amusing is her insistence on printing such one sided hate based comments as part of her freedom of speech –and calling it correct. While if I ask for ‘chopping the man’s head off’ as part of punishment for violating the law the man himself accepts she attacks my freedom of speech as ‘Barbarious’.Is freedom of speech only granted or enshrined for ‘western ladies’?

You have a valid point there, Hassan. But, attacks and counter attacks both fall in the same column - Freedom of Speech! :-) So, finally we are left with just one option - debate with your opponent and present facts to strengthen your side.

Well, that’s what we all expect from open forums - an opportunity for all to form their opinion and air their views. Just one thing, if we keep our conscious clear and our conversation graceful, it will make us a winner even if we lose the debate.

Yes Hassan, I know what you mean, I know what your saying i mean, but i still think there are some modifying points to make.
OK if its true Zalmai was manipulating Quran for his own propaganda purposes then as the sayimg goes - if you play with fire you get burnt - and it would be very foolish of him to do this in a traditional religous country, (i know most poeple certainly would know better)it would actually seem crazy, but still as a principle i just dont agree with the death penalty as justice gets it wrong too many times and is manipulated by politicians and the like.
As for the US relations with muslims and the foreign policy in general; i just think its so complex like a massive chess match on a world scale you have to think about carefully. But I genuinely believe the US believes in its underlying principles of democracy, and that it uses its influence to challenge and subvert opponents of political freedom around the world - dictators and politically oppressive regimes around the world.The end game is a world of democracy. (and freedom of religion)
I know what you mean that there is corruption and vice and hypocracy but the world isnt ideal, and of course it really does serve their national interests to promote democracy, all countries serve their national interests.
But what other superpower would you prefer other than the US, the Soviet Union wouldnt have been a nice world power they killed 20 million of their own in gulags, what about China would you prefer that - they wouldnt care about political freedom. Be careful what you wish for or it might come true.
Imagine if the US was destroyed.
There could be a lot more for people in the world to worry about than the west promoting democracy,- if the west was overcome,
look at hitler and the way he carried on and his beliefs and practises, he was brutal and autocratic, imagine if he won, there would be no stop to his tiniest whim, whatever crazy thought popped into his head, - at least with democracy the power is very diluted and there are checks and balances.....even though power is manipulated but unfortunately thats human behaviour! The US does do a lot of good in the world but people seem to take it for granted now, like aid and stuff.
Who else is willing to step in against some of these dictatorial egotistical moron tyrants who take over and completely ruin countries.
EU Russia China wouldnt bother with any such ethos, they even more self interested in national interest. anyhow have a good day . thats my little rant for today.