German Quran Handout: Salafis Criticized For Distributing Holy Books

A Muslim holds copies of a Quran he is distributing for free at Potsdamer Platz on April 14, 2012, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)

An Islamic fundamentalist group calling itself 'The True Religion' drew attention in Germany for actions some politicians criticized as “aggressive,” Der Spiegel reports.

Those actions? Handing out copies of the Quran to passers-by.

True Religion's campaign to distribute German translations of the Quran throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland has met widespread opposition, the New York Times reports.

A spokesman for the state interior ministry of North Rhine-Westphalia described concerns surrounding the book distribution and unease felt by Germans.

"What is presented as the simple distribution of the Quran is in truth the subtle spreading of the Salafist ideology," he told the BBC.

"The radical Salafist group is disturbing the religious peace in our country with their aggressive approach," Guenter Krings, vice chairman of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, told the Rheinische Post, according to Reuters.

Der Spiegel specifies the group was not breaking any laws, but concerns stem from the fundamentalist background of the organization. "It is the Salafist movement itself that most find objectionable," the newspaper writes.

Salafism, a conservative form of Islam, emphasizes a strict interpretation of religious texts.

According to the NYT, the group behind the Quran campaign was overseen by Ibrahim Abou-Nagie, a Palestinian Salafist, who came under scrutiny by German officials in 2005 after launching a website that was suspected of spreading extremism. He was acquitted of the charges this year.

Deutsche Welle notes the project aimed to distribute 25 million Qurans, but in light of the recent criticisms, its publisher, Ebner & Spiegel, stopped production of the holy books.

So far, the group has distributed around 300,000 copies, the BBC reports.

On Saturday, Salafist men handed out copies of the Qurans at a popular crossroads in Berlin, while protesters demonstrating against religious extremism stood just feet away, the NYT reports.

Deutsche Welle also notes that in Cologne, the Salafists didn’t even turn up. Instead, a table was decorated with a lone banner that said, “Islam means peace.”

• Members of a Muslim group pile Qurans while distributing copies of it at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Saturday, April 14, 2012. German authorities say the distribution of millions of copies of the Quran by an ultraconservative Muslim group is legal but will be carefully monitored. Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Beyer said Friday April 13, 2012, authorities are taking the Salafists' actions "very seriously," adding that intelligence services are actively monitoring the Salafist movement groups which have vowed to distribute up to 25 million free copies of the Muslim holy book "to bring the word of Allah to every household in Germany, Austria and Switzerland."(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

• A member of a Muslim group piles Qurans while distributing copies of it at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Saturday, April 14, 2012. German authorities say the distribution of millions of copies of the Quran by an ultraconservative Muslim group is legal but will be carefully monitored. Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Beyer said Friday April 13, 2012, authorities are taking the Salafists' actions "very seriously," adding that intelligence services are actively monitoring the Salafist movement groups which have vowed to distribute up to 25 million free copies of the Muslim holy book "to bring the word of Allah to every household in Germany, Austria and Switzerland." (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

• Members of a Muslim group pile Qurans while distributing copies of it at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Saturday, April 14, 2012. German authorities say the distribution of millions of copies of the Quran by an ultraconservative Muslim group is legal but will be carefully monitored. Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Beyer said Friday April 13, 2012, authorities are taking the Salafists' actions "very seriously," adding that intelligence services are actively monitoring the Salafist movement groups which have vowed to distribute up to 25 million free copies of the Muslim holy book "to bring the word of Allah to every household in Germany, Austria and Switzerland."(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

• Members of a Muslim group pile Qurans while distributing copies of it at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Saturday, April 14, 2012. German authorities say the distribution of millions of copies of the Quran by an ultraconservative Muslim group is legal but will be carefully monitored. Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Beyer said Friday April 13, 2012, authorities are taking the Salafists' actions "very seriously," adding that intelligence services are actively monitoring the Salafist movement groups which have vowed to distribute up to 25 million free copies of the Muslim holy book "to bring the word of Allah to every household in Germany, Austria and Switzerland." (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

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Comments

[Anonisan]

02:32 PM on 05/24/2012

Good , I need a new hat weight .

[TheEvilAtheist]

12:20 PM on 05/24/2012

What's the big deal? People who want a super boring book to read can take one, those who don't can keep on walking. To be honest, I'm not even worried about the ones who did decide to pick one up. I tried reading the Quran and it's hopelessly tedious, repetitive and dark. I just hope they aren't fooled by altered translations of any verses that claim to be "scientific evidence". Do your research, my German friends!

[TVMVT]

01:13 PM on 05/23/2012

Who wants to read the evil doctrine?

[iLdoRight]

11:39 AM on 05/20/2012

How much easier is it to analyze something when you only have to listen to it in your own language? Why is the Qur'an not available on one DVD as the King James Bible and other translations are with the full audio and words on the screen? Once done, which would be cheaper to reproduce? Is there a reason why Muslims don't want people to actually hear the words of the Qur'an in their own language without hearing a foreign hypnotic language along with it? Years ago I had the opportunity to listen to an audio copy of the Qur'an and did listen to it all many times and concluded it did not have the credibility that the Bible has. You be the judge for yourself, if you ever get a chance to listen to it all in your own language.

[learningquranon]

05:22 PM on 11/21/2012

its totally wrong that there is no copy of dvd Quran in different language there is and its more then 136 languages easy to find and listen online as well and just that your are lying is the sites exist there for more than 20 years and so you say that you listened that would be a lie as well because if you would have listen it with translation that why not question it with the preacher of Qur'an if you could not understand some points one more thing BiBle have different copies which contradict to each other and what about the changes made every year or so so you would say it is still the word of God or the word of the person who changed it after words in Quran it remains the same for more than 1400 years find interesting knowledge of Qur'an on http://quranforkids.org and try to read it next time it would be easy for you to defend and hope Allah guides you brother and last judge for your self about the "credibility" you were speaking of a word that haven't been changed ever and the word that changed every 2 to 3 years which one is original or if not that says the same

[thegriffinite]

01:00 AM on 05/14/2012

If you don't want it don't take it problem solved.

[fireart]

05:52 PM on 05/03/2012

When the Gideons passed out bibles some took them and threw them in the gutter in front of them. After all once it was given away it was the property of someone else.

[jennn83]

10:01 PM on 04/30/2012

salafis taking a moment off from killing homosexuals?

[whenicyouucme]

03:53 PM on 05/28/2012

lol you're hysterical and I'm a Muslim. lol

[ceekreewd]

01:25 AM on 04/30/2012

Geez ---- take the book, read and study it, put it on your shelf --- then when you open your mouth, you might just know what you're taking about...knowledge is power.

[special38x2]

08:23 PM on 05/13/2012

Unfortunately, it's a bit hard to understand the hate and violence being practiced in the name of the religion...doesn't seem to mean much if it's not being practiced & is used as a weapon.

[learningquranon]

05:25 PM on 11/21/2012

if you would have read it and asked question on it then you would never say this but instead you my brother listened to the media news and said it as they told

[Talab]

12:19 PM on 05/05/2012

So this is your "Superior Ideology " .... sounded like a true unrepentant Nazi

[nonChristian]

03:53 PM on 04/28/2012

Muslims demand all the freedoms of western nations, but then want the same freedom curtailed in their own nations. They misuse their host country's generosity in freedoms/financial help to increase their numbers by breeding like anything and then demand that the nation start following their hatred filled, bigoted, violent religion.

[JackVandusen]

07:52 PM on 05/06/2012

what sort of restricted freedoms are you proposing for Muslims?
if they don't deserve the same freedoms, what's your suggestion?

[whenicyouucme]

03:59 PM on 05/28/2012

When Muslims own all the banks, entertainment industry, Walstreet, Media outlets, and start putting in your school curriculem 'The Diary of Fatiha' has a mandatory read. Forcing you to start learning about Ramadan the way Westerners have to learn about Jewish holidays. Forcing Eids after all we only have 2 holiday's a year. Like Jewish holiday's are observed in the West, then and only then will I think you have a valid point.
If you truly feel that freedom of speech, freedom of thought and opinion is a logic that only applies to you and you alone, Why is the West barking about wanting to bring democracy over to the Middle East? You're full of it.
The ONLY religious group I see who is VERY cattered to in the Western countries especially America is Judaism. Have you ever picked up a copy of the Torah and read the racist arrogant belief system these people have? Type in Goyum which is a synanom for gentile which means NON JEW. This is what Jewish people think of the Non Jewish people. Yet some how some way Muslim's are out for your cheeseburgers and pensions.

[AndrewHall]

07:29 PM on 04/27/2012

I'm an atheist, but I support the free market of ideas. The German government shouldn't interfere with the distribution of Qurans, just as Islamic-majority countries should not interfere with their non-Muslim minorities.

[Macnos]

01:46 AM on 05/07/2012

Islam and respect for other religions do not go together especially in muslim countries

[whenicyouucme]

04:03 PM on 05/28/2012

Right... this is why there are 8 million Christians in Egypt, Millions more scattered all across the middle east. Not to mention the Arab Jews that have lived in arabia since the dawn of Judaism.
Do some research you will find Palestinian Chrsitians identify themselves MORE with Arab Muslims. More so than they identify themselves with Western Christians let alone a Jew.
I wish I could teach you history of all the possitive things Muslim's have done for civilization such as When the moors ruled Europe, Andalos there is a youtube documentary which gave birth to the ressniance. This is when Europeans were stuck in the dark ages Muslim empire flourished and liberated the Spanish. Then again I dont think you have the patience much less the ability for a human approach at learning.

[AndrewHall]

01:24 PM on 06/09/2012

Respectfully, that is irrelevant.

[alex-berlin]

10:41 AM on 06/04/2012

the german government did not interfere and even conservativ politicans defended the right of every one to distribut religious texts. the problem is a little more tricky. a couple days before this action in berlin, there were a "salafists sent quran for the kufar"-action in bonn. a rightwing-party show close to them a couple of mohammad-cartoons. and than the salafists attacked these guys and to police-officers got hit with a knife. one of this officers is still in hospital.
so the discussion is not about the free speech or the right of religion! the discussion is about a violent section of the muslim minority (there r 4 000 000 muslims in germany, and only 3500 salafists) - so dont get back to this "there is not religious freedom in germany"-bashing.

[AndrewHall]

01:26 PM on 06/09/2012

The solution is an easy one: if you are violent you go to jail. Passing out books is not violent -- physically attacking someone else is.

[PermanentVacancy]

11:30 AM on 05/04/2012

I think your liver needs u to drink more bourbon.....your demons are demanding that u end the misery of any near you.

[JowP]

04:58 AM on 04/26/2012

As much as I commend them for spreading the word of Allah and educating people on Islam, I can't help but fear the consequences of all these books of Allah when we live in an ignorant world with people who think it ok to disrespect other peoples beliefs. Do you see any Muslims tearing up or urinating on other scriptures on You Tube? No. That's because, amongst many other fundmental beliefs of morality, Islam teaches us tolerance, respect and PEACE.

[GotPC]

10:03 AM on 04/26/2012

Islam education has not been of any help to human rights, democracy and generally life in the 57 OIC countries. We still see their believers flocking from there to the secular atheist&LGBT friendly West. Why?

[supermoon2011]

05:02 PM on 04/26/2012

Pc,
Got this guy who think that Aisha's age was made up.. Could you help me out in giving exact Bukhari hadith verses to show him where he can actually find the verses?Thanks.

[thekoraniskrap]

08:01 PM on 04/28/2012

Islam and education. Two words that will never go together.

[truthteller63]

06:09 PM on 04/27/2012

They won't ALLOW Bibles in Saudi Arabia. Stop your lying!

[whenicyouucme]

04:10 PM on 05/28/2012

They do not allow bibles in Saudi Arabia you're 100% correct. Not in public. Christian workers as well as Jewish ones have their compounds where they're permitted to practice their religion as well. It is illegal to promote a religion any other than Islam in the Kingdom. For me I feel this is fine since There isn't a mormon that will allow with in their areas to pass out Q'urans, Vatican is considered it's own country with it's own rules, No Q'urans there. Let me know if at the wailing wall Jew's allow people to pass out the Q;uran that is a death sentence. The swarms of Israeli's will shoot who ever does it. Let's not pretend that each religion does not have areas they consider to be holy.

[Puncastle]

06:51 AM on 04/25/2012

Are you suggesting that America should be more intolerant?

[truthteller63]

06:10 PM on 04/27/2012

Tolerance of the intolerant is evil.

[thekoraniskrap]

08:01 PM on 04/28/2012

Agree!

[Abdur Rahman]

10:58 PM on 04/22/2012

salafis are a problem, but they are more an internal problem for Muslims than they are for the general public. Salafis are not going to take over germany anytime soon. the issue is how they spread the message. the quran is for Muslims. They should instead give out salafi books, which most Muslims have NO use for...because they are too exteme

[FrancisKing]

11:56 AM on 04/27/2012

There a e Salafist Qur'ans, often printed in Saudi Arabia. The Arabic is the same, but the translation has got added interpretations.

[whenicyouucme]

04:12 PM on 05/28/2012

I agree with you simply for the fact in order for a person to even TOUCH al Quran they're supposed to be totally clean. Absolution or Wudu. People should never hand over a Qu'ran to some one who has not ritually cleansed themselves. Jew's believe it or not have their own version of Wudu prior to touching the Torah. If you youtube Jews praying like Muslim's you would be pleasently surprised.
Any one interested in Islam with internet access has access to the Qu'ran. Right there online. in which ever language they choose , So personally, i don't get it.

[supermoon2011]

04:51 PM on 05/28/2012

Not surprising about Jews praying like muslims as most of their laws are similar too.Like not eating pork and practising circumcision.