uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN0HR26X20141002?irpc=932

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria called on
Thursday for standardised German-
language translations of the Koran and
moved to prohibit foreign funding of
Muslim organisations on its soil in a draft
law aimed in part at tackling Islamic extremism. The bill will overhaul a 1912 law governing
the status of Austrian Muslims, prompting
concern from a major local Islamic body,
which saw it mirroring widespread
mistrust of Muslims. The initiative comes at a time of robust
support for the far-right in Austria and also
alarm over reports of Muslims from the
small, neutral country joining Islamist
militant forces fighting in the Middle East. "The clear message should be that there is
no contradiction between being a faithful
Muslim and a proud Austrian," said Foreign
Affairs and Integration Minister Sebastian
Kurz, a member of the conservative
People's Party. "If you don't have orderly legal
regulation ... this can always bring dangers
(of extremism). In this sense, if you like this
is maybe a part of prevention," he told
reporters. He added that Sharia, or Islamic law, had
"no place here". Roughly half a million Muslims live in
Austria, representing about 6 percent of the
total population, which is overwhelmingly
Roman Catholic. The Christian and Muslim communities have
co-existed for years and relations have
been relatively unproblematic by
comparison with friction seen in other
European nations. For example, unlike France, Austria has not
moved to ban Muslim women from wearing
full-face veils in public. However, tensions have grown with the
rise of the anti-immigration and Islam-
critical Freedom Party, which is backed by
roughly a quarter of Austrians according to
opinion polls. "NOT A GIFT" Under the terms of the draft bill, state-
recognised religious organisations will
have to offer a unified German-language
version of their doctrine and sources of
faith, including for the Muslim holy book,
the Koran. At present, there are only two officially
recognised Islamic organisations in Austria. The legislation would also forbid Islamic
teachers employed by any foreign states
from working in Austria and stop outside
funding for any Islamic organisations. "Among the Muslim base, the law is not
seen as a gift for the Eid holiday," said Carla
Amina Baghajati, spokeswoman of the
Islamic Community of Faith in Austria
(IGGIO), referring to Eid-al-Adha which
Muslims will celebrate in the coming days. "(The bill) mirrors in its overtone the spirit
of the times we currently perceive, which
is marked by blanket suspicion and mistrust
against Muslims," she said, adding that she
was optimistic the legislation might still be
amended. Specifically, the IGGIO was worried about
the law appearing to bundle together
various Sunni, Shi'ite and Alawite sects and
also about the ramifications of trying to
agree on a unified German-language
version of the Koran. The Arabic version of the Koran is generally
thought of as the word of Allah in Islam,
with any translation including an element
of interpretation. "If a version of the Koran (in German)
comes along as the codified, ultimate
(version), then this would contradict the
self-conception of Islam," Baghajati said. Foreign minister Kurz told Austrian radio
last month that numerous translations of
the Koran had generated countless
interpretations and said it was in the
interests of local Muslims to eliminate
possible misunderstandings. The Austrian government warned in August
that Islamist militancy was on the rise and
officials have said around 140 people have
left Austria to fight with the likes of the
Islamic State, which has grabbed control of
swathes of Iraq and Syria. Last month, Austria said it would ban
militant Islamist groups' symbols and strip
citizenship from people who travel abroad
to fight with jihadists. On Thursday Kurz dismissed suggestions
that a unified translation would pose a
problem. "Am I sceptical when I hear this is difficult
or not easily done? Fundamentally no," said
Kurz, adding that it had previously been
possible to create unified teaching material
for Islamic religious studies at schools
across Austria.

"If a version of the Koran (in German)
comes along as the codified, ultimate
(version), then this would contradict the self-conception of Islam," Baghajati said.

I am still wondering of how the translation of the koran, in another language, would contradict the self-conception of islam, afterall God created all languages as equal. And I believe that the translation will make the understanding of the religion better and easier.

true2god:
"If a version of the Koran (in German)
comes along as the codified, ultimate
(version), then this would contradict the self-conception of Islam," Baghajati said.

I am still wondering of how the translation of the koran, in another language, would contradict the self-conception of islam, afterall God created all languages as equal. And I believe that the translation will make the understanding of the religion better and easier.

If translated, they will see the malicious verses in it. That's why!

Ajibam:


If translated, they will see the malicious verses in it. That's why!

I think you have a point, there are some anti-jewish and anti-christian verses in the koran they do not want the austrian or western public to see.

aren't they already translated Quran in german language.

tartar9:
aren't they already translated Quran in german language.

All islamic religion teachings must be done in German language. All islamic prayers must be rendered in German language. All koran, hadith and the sunnah of the prophet must be translated to German language, thats why muslims are complaining of being victimized in Austria.

I think any responsible govt will do anything possible for the security of her citizens.

true2god:
All islamic religion teachings must be done in German language. All islamic prayers must be rendered in German language. All koran, hadith and the sunnah of the prophet must be translated to German language, thats why muslims are complaining of being victimized in Austria.

I think any responsible govt will do anything possible for the security of her citizens.

that is not possible then.