Shiite cleric demands apology from Pope
Lebanon's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, has demanded a personal apology from Pope Benedict XVI for 'insulting Islam' by remarks that the Pope made during a speech in Germany this week. And we all know what Islam does when it is 'dishonored.'We do not accept the apology through Vatican channels ... and ask him [Benedict] to offer a personal apology - not through his officials - to Muslims for this false reading [of Islam].Al-AP reports that Fadlallah also said that he condemns "and protests in the strongest terms" the pope's comments, "particularly his quoting without any occasion of the words of the emperor in which he insults Prophet Muhammad." And we all know what happened the last time the 'prophet' was 'insulted'....
We call on the pope to carry out a scientific and fastidious reading of Islam. We do not want him to succumb to the propaganda of the enemy led by Judaism and imperialism against Islam. [I hope that none of you are looking to Fadlallah to apologize to Jews for that remark. Hell will freeze over first. CiJ]
Al-AP fills us in on just what the Pope said that upset the 'religion of peace.'
Other Islamic leaders have demanded an apology from the pope, over remarks in which he quoted from a book recounting a conversation between 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and an educated Persian, on the truths of Christianity and Islam.I hope the Pope continues to offend 'Muslim sensibilities' for many years to come.
"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said.
"He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,"' Benedict quoted the emperor as saying.
On Thursday, the Vatican said the pope had not intended to offend Muslim sensibilities with the remarks. But the comments continued to reverberate Friday.
About 100 worshippers demonstrated after Friday prayers at Egypt's Al-Azhar mosque, the Sunni Arab world's most prominent institution, chanting "Oh Crusaders, oh cowards! Down with the pope!"
Many attributed the pope's comments to a larger political bias against Muslims. "This is part of the whole war against Islam. Whenever we close a door on evil, they open another door," said an Egyptian man who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
"These Christians are all infidels. Benedict himself is an infidel and a blind man. Doesn't he see that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places were waged by Christians?" another worshipper said.
One of the protest's organizers, a Muslim Brotherhood figure, shouted into a microphone, demanding an official apology from the Vatican.
Hundreds of Egyptian riot police wearing black helmets and carrying heavy shields surrounded the mosque, preventing protesters from spilling over into the streets.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:55 PM
1 Comments:
You know, there’s something ironic about Muslims reacting to comments about their religion being violent by being violent. It would be funny if the consequences weren’t potentially tragic. I don’t think the Catholic Pope should apologize, as it will only reinforce the Muslim conviction that they have a right not to be offended, but still I pray that this time no one gets killed.
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