A United States firm has sought to quieten a controversy over coded Biblical references inscribed on gunsights used by New Zealand troops in Afghanistan by announcing it is providing the military with kits to remove them.
New Zealand defence bosses want the sights cleaned up.
The New Zealand soldiers were issued with Trijicon advanced combat optical gun sights but defence officials have only just learned they had a biblical inscription put on them by the American manufacturer, Trijicon Incorporated.
The sights, dubbed "Jesus sights" by overseas media, were also issued to American troops, and troops from other countries, but the news outraged Muslim groups, who said it could provide propaganda material for extremists claiming there was a "crusader war against Islam" by the United States.
Critics charged that the company was putting troops in danger in Muslim-majority nations where the US military presence is already bitterly resented.
The Wixom, Michigan, company said it had inscribed references to the New Testament on the metal casings of its gunsights for over two decades.
But it said it would supply the military with kits "to enable the removal of the references that are already on products that are currently deployed".
Among the coded inscriptions were JN8:12, an apparent reference to John 8:12: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Trijicon said it had taken the step "in response to concerns raised by the Department of Defence" and to "ensure the war-time production needs of the troops are met as quickly as possible".
The Pentagon said earlier it was "disturbed" after reports emerged this week about the inscriptions. The Marine Corps and the Army have launched a review.
The practice appeared to be a direct violation of a US Central Command general order issued after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that strictly prohibits "proselytising of any religion, faith or practice".
Besides providing kits, the company said it would remove the Biblical references on all US military products that have not yet been shipped and stop inscribing them on gunsights in the future.
It also offered other international military forces using its products -- which include the Australian Defence Force, British military and the New Zealand Defence Force -- the option to remove the references.
"Trijicon has proudly served the US military for more than two decades, and our decision to offer to voluntarily remove these references is both prudent and appropriate," Trijicon president and chief executive Stephen Bindon said.
New Zealand defence spokesman Major Kristian Dunne said New Zealand was talking with the manufacturer about ways of removing the references, which were stamped on the sights as part of the serial number.
He said it was not just a matter of grinding the numbers off.
"We just need to make sure we don't damage them because they are a good bit of kit."
Prime Minister John Key said the Government was not aware the gunsights had biblical inscriptions when the New Zealand Defence Force purchased them.
"Now we are in discussions with the company in the United States who will ensure the inscriptions are removed, and we wouldn't want them on future sights.
"We are going to continue to buy that product because it's the best product in the world, and provides the best level of safety and security for our defence forces."
Mr Key said the inscriptions were inappropriate and the New Zealand Defence Force was entitled to know about them.
