Friday, September 15, 2006

Pope's comments offend Muslims worldwide

Pope Benedict stirred anger among the world's Muslims after coments made at a speech at Regensburg University earlier this week.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the world's largest coalition of Muslim nations, said quotations used by the Pope of 14th century Byzantine Emperor, Manuel II Palaeologus amounted to "character assassination of the Prophet Mohammed" and a "smear campaign."

Pakistani Muslims carry placards and shout slogans against remarks by Pope Benedict XVI, during a protest in Islamabad. A wave of protest from Muslims across the globe descended on the Vatican as the Islamic world denounced comments by Pope Benedict XVI linking Islam with violence.(AFP)
Pakistani Muslims protest remarks by Pope Benedict XVI in Islamabad. AFP photo via Yahoo News.

The Pakistani government passed a resolution demanding the Pope withdraw his remarks.

The reaction come at a sensitive time when the Pope is palinning to visit predominantly Muslim Turkey, once the seat of the Eastern Roman empire. Some analysts believe the Pope may be forced to postpone or cancel his visit.