Quran desecration: Difference between revisions
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{{QuranRelated}} |
{{QuranRelated}} |
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The term "''' |
The term "'''Koran desecration'''" is defined as insulting the [[Koran]] by defiling or defacing it. |
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Most traditional schools of Islamic law require [[wudu]] before a [[Muslim]] may touch the |
Most traditional schools of Islamic law require [[wudu]] before a [[Muslim]] may touch the Koran, which is regarded as the literal word of [[God]] in its untranslated [[Arabic language|Arabic]] form. Muslims must always treat the book with reverence, and are forbidden, for instance, to pulp, recycle, or simply discard worn-out copies of the text; instead, burning or burying the worn-out copies in a respectful manner is required. <ref>[http://www.ourdialogue.com/q4.htm Disposing of the sheets of Koran], ourdialogue.com, reprint from Our Dialogue Q&A series, [[Adil Salahi]], ''[[Arab News]]'', Jeddah</ref> |
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Respect for the written text of the |
Respect for the written text of the Koran is an important element of religious faith in [[Islam]]. Intentionally insulting the Koran is regarded as a form of [[Islam and blasphemy|blasphemy]]. Desecrating a copy of the Koran is punishable by imprisonment in some countries (life imprisonment in Pakistan, according to Article 295-B of the Penal Code) and has been punishable by death in Afghanistan and Pakistan.<ref name=Reut/><ref name=BBC/> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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{{main|2005 |
{{main|2005 Koran desecration controversy|2010 Koran-burning controversy}} |
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In mid-2005, allegations of deliberate desecration of the |
In mid-2005, allegations of deliberate desecration of the Koran<ref name=Reut/> in front of Muslim prisoners at the [[United States]] military base in [[Guantanamo Bay]] fueled a widespread controversy and were blamed for deadly Muslim riots. A US military investigation confirmed 4 instances of Koran desecrations by US personnel (2 of which were described as "unintentional"), and 15 instances of desecration by Muslim prisoners. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/03/AR2005060301654.html Pentagon Details Abuse Of Koran]</ref> According to CBC News, "The statement did not provide any explanation about why the detainees might have abused their own holy books." <ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2005/06/03/quran050603.html U.S. admits abuses to Qur'an in Guantanamo].</ref> |
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In May 2005, a report in ''[[Newsweek]]'' (9 May 2005), claiming that U.S. interrogators desecrated the |
In May 2005, a report in ''[[Newsweek]]'' (9 May 2005), claiming that U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), led to deadly Muslim protests sparked by the article.<ref name=Reut/> |
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In 2007, a Nigerian Christian teacher, [[Christianah Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin]], was stabbed to death after allegations she had desecrated a Qu'ran.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nigeria teacher dies 'over Koran' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6477177.stm|accessdate=9 September 2010|newspaper=BBC News|date=21 March 2007}}</ref> |
In 2007, a Nigerian Christian teacher, [[Christianah Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin]], was stabbed to death after allegations she had desecrated a Qu'ran.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nigeria teacher dies 'over Koran' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6477177.stm|accessdate=9 September 2010|newspaper=BBC News|date=21 March 2007}}</ref> |
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In 2010, Rev Terry Jones of the [[Dove World Outreach Center]], a church in Gainesville, Florida, provoked international condemnation after announcing [[2010 |
In 2010, Rev Terry Jones of the [[Dove World Outreach Center]], a church in Gainesville, Florida, provoked international condemnation after announcing [[2010 Koran-burning controversy|plans to burn a Koran]] on the anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Indonesian Muslims Protest Plans to Burn Koran on September 11|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Indonesian-Muslims-Protest-Plans-to-Burn-Koran-on-September-11-102250384.html|accessdate=9 September 2010|newspaper=Voice of America news|date=5 September 2010}}</ref> The plans were subsequently cancelled.<ref>{{cite news|title=US pastor Terry Jones cancels Koran burning|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11255366|accessdate=10 September 2010|newspaper=BBC News|date=9 September 2010}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 12:23, 22 February 2011
Template:QuranRelated The term "Koran desecration" is defined as insulting the Koran by defiling or defacing it.
Most traditional schools of Islamic law require wudu before a Muslim may touch the Koran, which is regarded as the literal word of God in its untranslated Arabic form. Muslims must always treat the book with reverence, and are forbidden, for instance, to pulp, recycle, or simply discard worn-out copies of the text; instead, burning or burying the worn-out copies in a respectful manner is required. [1] Respect for the written text of the Koran is an important element of religious faith in Islam. Intentionally insulting the Koran is regarded as a form of blasphemy. Desecrating a copy of the Koran is punishable by imprisonment in some countries (life imprisonment in Pakistan, according to Article 295-B of the Penal Code) and has been punishable by death in Afghanistan and Pakistan.[2][3]
History
In mid-2005, allegations of deliberate desecration of the Koran[2] in front of Muslim prisoners at the United States military base in Guantanamo Bay fueled a widespread controversy and were blamed for deadly Muslim riots. A US military investigation confirmed 4 instances of Koran desecrations by US personnel (2 of which were described as "unintentional"), and 15 instances of desecration by Muslim prisoners. [4] According to CBC News, "The statement did not provide any explanation about why the detainees might have abused their own holy books." [5]
In May 2005, a report in Newsweek (9 May 2005), claiming that U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), led to deadly Muslim protests sparked by the article.[2]
In 2007, a Nigerian Christian teacher, Christianah Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin, was stabbed to death after allegations she had desecrated a Qu'ran.[6]
In 2010, Rev Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center, a church in Gainesville, Florida, provoked international condemnation after announcing plans to burn a Koran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.[7] The plans were subsequently cancelled.[8]
See also
References
[s] - The major sources about punishment are: [2][3][9]
- ^ Disposing of the sheets of Koran, ourdialogue.com, reprint from Our Dialogue Q&A series, Adil Salahi, Arab News, Jeddah
- ^ a b c d "Newsweek says Koran desecration report is wrong", David Morgan, Reuters (Washington, DC), 15 May 2005.
- ^ a b "BBC NEWS | South Asia | Riots over US Koran 'desecration'", BBC.com, 11 May 2005, webpage: BBC-491.
- ^ Pentagon Details Abuse Of Koran
- ^ U.S. admits abuses to Qur'an in Guantanamo.
- ^ "Nigeria teacher dies 'over Koran'". BBC News. 21 March 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ^ "Indonesian Muslims Protest Plans to Burn Koran on September 11". Voice of America news. 5 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ^ "US pastor Terry Jones cancels Koran burning". BBC News. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ "Six Christians killed in Pakistan over Koran 'insult' ", Persecutionbd.org, August 2009, webpage: Persec-insult (compute-bound).
External links
- "Newsweek says Koran desecration report is wrong", David Morgan, Reuters (Washington, DC), 15 May 2005, webpage: WTFrep-185 (access 2009-12-03).
- Afghan protest over 'burnt Koran', BBC, 25 October 2009.