Posted on 09/19/2006 4:52:17 AM PDT by Brilliant
Employees of the state body that organizes Muslim worship in Turkey asked the authorities on Tuesday to open legal proceedings against Pope Benedict and to arrest him when he visits the country in November.
Muslims worldwide have been angered by remarks the Pope made in a lecture last week that they said portrayed Islam as a religion tainted by violence and irrationality.
Benedict has said he is deeply sorry Muslims have been offended by his use of a medieval quotation on Islam and holy war, but has stopped short of retracting his comments.
Employees of Ankara's Directorate General for Religious Affairs, or Diyanet, presented a petition to the Justice Ministry asking it to launch a probe into the Pope's remarks and to detain him when he arrives, the Anatolian news agency said.
They said the Pontiff had violated Turkish laws upholding freedom of belief and thought by "insulting" Islam and the Prophet Mohammad.
The protesters held banners that read "Either apologize or don't come."
It is not uncommon for individuals or organizations in Turkey to seek legal action against world leaders whose actions they disapprove of. They have never succeeded.
Benedict is due to pay an official visit to Turkey on November 28-30, his first to a Muslim country since he became Pope.
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has described the Pope's comments on Islam as "ugly" but the government has said it still expects the visit to go ahead on schedule.
The Diyanet controls all imams in Turkey, writes their Friday sermons and sends prayer leaders to Turkish communities abroad.
Ali Bardakoglu, head of the Diyanet, has criticized the Pope's remarks but has also welcomed his subsequent apology.
Freedom of belief and thought only as long as it is what they tell you to believe and think.
The fact that they don't even see how rediculous that statement is shows that we are not dealing with rational people.
And again they live up to their new moniker - The Religion of Irony.
No kidding. Never have so many people been so hasty to prove their detractors exactly correct....
It's a shame. A really nice country taken over by thugs and idiots.
How about we arrest those who call for more bombing and killing?
How about we expel them?
sw
Nice screen name. Reminds me of one of the most wrenching images from the book.
Nothing NEW!
Islam - violent and irrational? How could anyone conclude otherwise?
LOL...the government writes the sermons and prayers, thus preserving "freedom of belief and thought"! You just couldn't make this up. Muslims parody themselves every day.
Just keep Turkey out of the EU. I know the US has supported them getting in but they are not up to the standards to join the EU
No, it doesn't see wise...
But I suppose that's his job.
I'm thankful it isn't mine...
Can I buy a "m"...
Thank. That's why I chose it. Loved the imagery.
There's nothing to retract. Stand firm Pope Benedict!
Benedict has said he is deeply sorry Muslims have been offended by his use of a medieval quotation on Islam and holy war, but has stopped short of retracting his comments.
____________________
There's nothing to retract. Stand firm Pope Benedict!
****
Exactly. The mainstream media has characterized the Pope's subsequent remarks as an apology for what he said and that's not true. He said he was sorry certain Muslims were offended; he was not sorry for the remarks themselves. Good for him! People are finding out that he is not the same as Pope John Paul II, and, not meaning to disrespect the late Pontiff, but in these troubled times, an even tougher Pope is a good thing.
Some yahoo on tv last night tried to "excuse" the Pope, saying he was an academic and not accustomed to choosing his remarks carefully as previous Popes have done, and that he may need to make certain adjustments...maybe have others go over his speeches ahead of time, etc. etc. I say, no. He should be himself, say what he wants to, and not apologize. If some people are offended, too bad.
Wow - who knew Muslims could be so reasonable!
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