An article in a Dutch party newspaper calls to ban the Koran, and cites verses showing how intolerant it is. The Koran might be violent, there might be more such citations, but it is not the book which is the cause of violence, it is the believers. Such citations can be taken from the Bible as well. No religious believer in the bible today would understand an "eye for an eye" in its literal form. The Koran has quotes supporting tolerance as well. It is up to the believer to decide which quotes he'd rather cite and how he prefers to live his life.
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A writer writing under the pseudonym H.S.M. Frankenvrij wrote in the VVD party newspaper Liberaal Reveil that spreading the Koran in its current form should be a crime. Frankenvrij claims that spreading the Koran or making it public involves discrimination and incitement. As a solution the author suggests making a legal version by "Islamic editors". All calls to hate and violence must be eliminated. The bible, according to the author, is a much more tolerant.
The author calls the Koran "primitive, unbalanced, intolerant, aggressive and resentful, especially towards those who think differently" and cites a verse from Sura 4:56 "Surely, those who disbelieve in our revelations, we will condemn them to the hellfire. Whenever their skins are burnt, we will give them new skins. Thus, they will suffer continuously."
Dupuis, chairman of the editor committee, defends publishing the article under a pseudonym. "The reason for it is right in front of us. It was our advice, not a condition of the author. Better safe than sorry."
He added that experts in Islamic theology looked at the article and found it ok. "Also by Muslims it is a much heard opinion."
"The acts that stem from religion also fall under public moral and the law. In the end it depends on what people do with it." Adding that the VVD is not calling to ban the Koran.
Source: Parool (Dutch)
