Bible translator criticized over word substitution in editions for Muslim countries

One of the largest Bible translators in the world is undergoing an independent review after critics claimed language in some of their translations intended for Muslim countries misses the essential Christian idea of Trinity: the father, son and the holy spirit or ghost.

Critics argue that using words like “Messiah” instead of “Son” and “Lord” instead of “Father” badly distorts the doctrine, in which God is said to be one being in three persons.

“If you remove `son,’ you have to remove `father,’ and if you remove those, the whole thread of the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation is unraveled,” said the Rev. Georges Houssney, the president of Horizons International, a Christian organization that works extensively with Muslims and himself a translator of the Bible into Arabic.

FULL ARTICLE FROM THE HUFFINGTON POST

Iran’s Death Penalty for Christian Pastor Violates the Qur’an

In Iran, Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani faces the death penalty for the “crime” of leaving Islam as a teenager and converting to Christianity. A translated Iranian Supreme Court brief from 2010 states that 32-year-old Nadarkhani “is convicted of turning his back on Islam, the greatest religion, the prophesy of Mohammad at the age of 19.” While there is widespread public outcry of support for his specific case, some are speaking broadly about the punishment for apostasy. Many — Muslim and non-Muslim — mistakenly believe that Islam supports this barbaric practice.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Islam prescribes absolutely no punishment for apostasy. If one were to assume that Islam prescribes some sort of punishment for a person who chooses to leave Islam, that would invariably mean that Islam forces one to be a Muslim against their will. But chapter two of the Holy Quran emphatically denies this possibility, stating “there shall be no compulsion in religion.” This is an unambiguous declaration protecting freedom of conscience and choice.

FULL ARTICLE FROM THE HUFFINGTON POST 

Burning the Myths About Islam: What Qur’an Burning Protests Don’t Say

The recent violent protests in Afghanistan - a reaction to the burning of the Quran by a small church in the United States last month - recalled an inescapable reality.

Extremists on all sides - whether in free, democratic America, or in corrupt, occupied Afghanistan - create havoc and chaos, demonstrating the danger brought about by a deadly cocktail of ignorance and idiocy. Ultimately, they cause the deaths of innocent people.

Some cite the difference between the two acts: one saw the burning of a book, while the other claimed human lives.

This is of course true, but what exactly did the mastermind of this foolish and hate-filled act expect, other than a reaction somewhere on the Muslim side?

FULL ARTICLE FROM AL JAZEERA (ENGLISH)

Qur’an Burning Evokes Deadly Response

Outraged by the burning of a Koran in the United States, rioters attacked a United Nations compound in the northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Friday, leaving at least seven foreigners and four Afghans dead after an hour-long rampage and raising troubling questions about the capacity of the Afghan police to maintain law and order.

Mazar-i-Sharif, a prosperous city run by a strongman governor, has been considered among the few relatively peaceful places in Afghanistan. Only 10 days ago, it was named as one of the first four provincial capitals where local security forces will assume full responsibility for security beginning this summer.

The attack occurred as crowd of some 2,000 men marched past the compound in an organized protest against the burning of a Koran two weeks ago by a fringe Florida pastor, Terry Jones.

Most Afghans, lacking access to international news and the Internet, learned of the incident just this week from local media after President Hamid Karzai publicly condemned the Koran-burning.

FULL ARTICLE FROM THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Muslim, Christian groups rally against US pastor

LAHORE: Several religious groups held protests on Wednesday against the reported burning of the Holy Quran by an American pastor in a Florida church in the United States.

Besides parties affiliated with the Deobandi and Wahabi schools, the protestors included a Christian organisation as well. The speakers at rallies organised by the former urged the people to prepare themselves for jihad against America. The Christians rally, however, also voiced opposition against the misuse of blasphemy laws in the country.

Addressing protesters in front of the US consulate, leaders of different religious parties vowed to struggle for strengthening the blasphemy laws, particularly Section 295-B (defiling of the Holy Quran) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

FULL ARTICLE FROM INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE