DUTCH MODERN TRANSLATION OF QUR‘AN SUCCESSFUL

De Volkskrant features a photograph of Dutch-Iranian author Kader Abdolah signing copies of his Qur'an translation in an abbey in the southern, predominantly Roman Catholic province of North Brabant. Abdolah is on a promotional tour for his modern translation of the Qur'an, which is intended to be easier to understand for Dutch readers.

So far, the book sold 70,000 copies and the author's talks are sold out. De Volkskrant writes that his success is remarkable at a time of significant criticism of the Qur'an. Kader Abdolah says that four hundred years ago, the Jews immigrated to the Netherlands and it became a Judeo-Christian society. Now the Muslims are moving here and will influence the culture. "Muslims are here to stay", he says, saying that we should ‘Enjoy it!’. ‘The Muslims are capable of adding beauty to Dutch culture. They just need time.’ (expatica.com)

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October 20, 2008