Pope sparks fury among Muslims
Updated on 15 September 2006
Muslims across the world have lined up to condemn remarks on Islam quoted by Pope Benedict XVI in a speech in Germany.
Pope Benedict XVI. Picture: Reuters.
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In a deeply theological speech at his old university, the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Muhammad had brought the world only "evil and inhuman" things.
However, the Vatican denied that the Pontiff intended any offence to the Muslim religion and had only wanted to make clear that he rejected violence motivated by religion.
The Vatican statement, which falls short of an apology, has done little to appease critics in the Muslim world, however.
The head of the Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood called on Islamic countries to threaten to break off relations with the Vatican unless the pontiff withdrew his remarks.
Mohamed Mahdi Akef,whose organisation is one of the oldest, largest and most influential in the Arab world, said: "The Pope has aroused the anger of the whole Islamic world and strengthened the argument of those who say that the West is hostile to everything Islamic."
Elsewhere, Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniya, condemned the Pope's comments. In Iraq, the comments were criticised at Friday prayers by followers of radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, while the "hostile" remarks drew a demand for an apology from a top religious official in Turkey.
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