The classics get Islam twist

ANTALYA, Turkey — Pinocchio, Tom Sawyer and other characters have been converted to Islam in new versions of 100 classic stories in the Turkish school curriculum.

“Give me some bread, for Allah’s sake,” Pinocchio says to Geppetto, his maker, in a book stamped with the crest of the Ministry of Education.

“Thanks be to Allah,” the puppet says later.

In “The Three Musketeers,” D’Artagnan is told that he cannot visit Aramis. The reason would make the author, Alexandre Dumas, turn in his grave.

An old woman explains: “He is surrounded by men of religion. He converted to Islam after his illness.”

Tom Sawyer may have shirked his homework, but he is more conscientious in learning his Islamic prayers. He is given a “special treat” for learning the Arabic words.

Pollyanna, seen by some as the embodiment of Christian forgiveness, says she believes in the end of the world as predicted in the Koran.

Heidi, the Swiss orphan girl in the tale by Johanna Spyri, is told that praying to Allah will help her to relax.

The clumsy insertions by Islamic publishing houses have raised debate in Turkey, which has been a strongly secular state since the 1920s.

Other books contain insults, slang and rude rhymes that mock the president and the prime minister.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s first Muslim prime minister, has called for swift action against the publishers.