Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved a summary prohibiting the English translation of Islamic terms. Sacred Arabic names and words like "allah", "masjid", "sala'at" or "rasool", are now forbidden to be translated in English as "God", "mosque", "prayer" and "prophet".
The decision, which comes during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, was appreciated by Islamic leaders, but religious minority representatives express their concern.
According to Nasir Saeed, director of the NGO CLAAS (Center for legal aid assistance and settlement) "it will be difficult to predict what kind of impact it will have on Pakistani society".
"Considering the current situation of the country, where extremism, fundamentalism and hatred against Christians and other religious minorities are on the rise, there is a possibility that this measure will have a negative impact on the lives of non-Muslims, who are already suffering because of discriminatory policies", he said in a statement sent to Fides. In fact, says Saeed "there is the possibility that people can abuse this provision if they consider a translation offensive or consider it an insult to Islam".
According to Saeed, the provision could increase cases of accusations of blasphemy. The head of CLAAS concludes: "The announcement falls one day before the anniversary of the coup of General Zia in 1977, when a number of laws were issued to Islamize the country". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 07/07/2015)
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