I am all for non-Muslim officials reading the Qur’an in order to gain more insight into Islam, but I doubt that any genuine insight that they get from reading it will be encouraged by Amsterdam police authorities.
Also, I get the impression that this new translation is a whitewash. If any Dutch readers have any insight into that, please let me know.
From Expatica, May 27 (thanks to all who sent this in):
AMSTERDAM – Police officers in Amsterdam are to get a special deal if they buy Dutch writer Kader Abdolah’s new translation of the Qur’an. The capital’s police authority reckons that the new version, designed to be more accessible to the Dutch public, will give officers more insight into Islam.
It is subsidising police purchases of the book by 50 percent. A police spokesman explained that while many officers have some knowledge of the Bible, the Qur’an is often unknown territory.
Right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV) MPs are outraged by the plan, with Sietse Fritsma calling it “Islamic propaganda” and saying that public money should not be spent on it.
On Tuesday, the PVV will demand the government intervene to scrap the plan.