'Apologise, or do not come'

2006-09-19 13:45

Ankara - Turks demanded on Tuesday that Pope Benedict XVI make amends over comments on Islam that enraged Muslims before visiting the predominantly Muslim country in November.

"Either apologise, or do not come," read a banner carried by a group of protesters from a religious workers' union in Ankara on Tuesday - a sign many Muslims feel Benedict's expression of regret on Sunday was insufficient.

The protesters reportedly demanded that the justice ministry arrest the pope on his arrival in Turkey and face trial on charges of insulting Islam and causing hatred based on religious differences.

Reach out to Muslims

Ilnur Cevik, editor-in-chief of The New Anatolian newspaper, said in a commentary on Monday that the pope must reach out to Muslims before visiting Turkey.

"We too want this visit to materialise, but how? How can the pope make amends and convince the masses with religious sensitivities in Turkey that he is not an enemy of Islam and that he wants to forge an atmosphere of co-existence?" asked Cevik.

"This is a hard task which the pontiff has to undertake. If he fails to do this, it will be very hard for the Turkish people to give him a warm welcome."

Reviving spirit of the Crusades

The source of the Islamic anger was a speech last week in which the pontiff cited a Medieval text that characterised some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith".

Secular Turkey's ruling Islamic-rooted government accused him of trying to revive the spirit of the Crusades and called on the pontiff to offer a sincere and personal apology.

The pope said Sunday that he was "deeply sorry" that Muslims took offence, and stressed that the emperor's words did not reflect his own opinion.

Turkey's membership of the EU

In Turkey, the pope's remarks strengthened the widespread view that the pope is hostile to Turkey's membership in the European Union.

As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the pope questioned whether the European Union should open its doors to predominantly Muslim Turkey, saying its membership might be incompatible with European culture.

However, Cevik said the papal visit scheduled for November 28 could be an opportunity "to dispel prejudices on both sides".

"The pope has to see the fact that secular Turkey with its huge Muslim population can be an asset for the European Union," said Cevik.

"He could see himself that Turkey could be a good bridge between civilisations and religions ... that this is a unique Muslim country with a Western look."

- AP