|
25 000 protest against pope
26/11/2006 16:53 - (SA)
Istanbul - Tens of thousands of Turks protested on Sunday against Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to this predominantly Muslim country.
Police said about 25 000 people had joined the demonstration - the largest anti-pope protest so far ahead of Benedict's arrival on Tuesday. About 4 000 officers backed by riot trucks, armoured vehicles and helicopters monitored the protest as the crowd grew.
The protest was organised by a pro-Islamic political party called Felicity whose leaders have said they were offended by Benedict's comments linking violence and Islam.
Benedict - who is making his first trip as pope to a predominantly Muslim country - has expressed regret for offending Muslims by his remarks and said they did not reflect his personal views.
Protesters shouted "God is great" in Arabic and carried posters asking the pope not to come to Turkey. They also draped signs on the way from the Istanbul airport.
Some banners accused Benedict of encouraging terrorism by linking Islam and violence. Many simply called on the pope to apologise.
In a speech in September in his native Germany, the pontiff quoted a Byzantine emperor who characterised some of Muhammad's teachings as "evil and inhuman", particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith".
The remarks set off a wave of reproaches and anti-Vatican protests across the Muslim world - including in Turkey.
Officially, Turkey is a rigidly secular republic, though about 99% of its population is Muslim.
- AP
|
News
