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Merkel defends Pope amid protests Fresh criticism of Pope's remarks
(about 4 hours later)
The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has defended Pope Benedict XVI over remarks he made about Islam. Criticism is continuing to pour in from religious and political leaders in the Muslim world following remarks by Pope Benedict XVI about Islam.
She said critics "misunderstand the aim of his speech, which was to call for dialogue between religions". Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, spoke of sinister tendencies to link terror with Islam which gave rise to an ominous alienation with the West.
Speaking in Germany, the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Muhammad had brought the world only "evil and inhuman" things. Pope Benedict, who is back in Italy, is said to be upset at the way in which his remarks have been interpreted.
The remarks have continued to draw angry reactions from clerics and commentators around the Muslim world. Correspondents say his visit to mainly Muslim Turkey in November is in doubt.
Pope Benedict, who has been closeted with his chief advisers at his summer residence near Rome, is said to be upset at the way in which his remarks have been interpreted. Speaking in Germany on Thursday, the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Muhammad had brought the world only "evil and inhuman" things.
'Take full responsibility'
Speaking at the Non-Aligned Movement's summit in Cuba, Gen Musharraf added his voice to those of a host of Muslim leaders who have criticised the Pope.
The Pope must not take lightly the spread of outrage that has been created Abdullah Ahmad BadawiMalaysian prime minister Key excerpts: Pope's speech In quotes: Muslim reaction In pictures: Muslim anger
"Our strategy must clearly oppose the sinister tendencies to associate terrorism with Islam and discrimination against Muslims, which are giving rise to an ominous alienation between the west and the world of Islam," he said.
At the same meeting, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Pope had to do more to calm Muslim emotions.
"The Pope must not take lightly the spread of outrage that has been created," he said, quoted by Malaysia's Bernama news agency.
"The Vatican must now take full responsibility over the matter and carry out the necessary steps to rectify the mistake."
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended the pontiff, saying critics misunderstood the aim of the speech.
Meanwhile In Turkey, the first Muslim country the Pope is due to visit in November, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford says the criticism is mounting, not fading.
HAVE YOUR SAY Pope Benedict probably should self-criticise Christianity's violent past before commenting on the other faith John Lin, Illinois Send us your comments Vatican braced for anger
So far, there have only been minor street protests, she says, but there is widespread anger at the Pope from Turks, many of whom are still smarting at the Pope's previous comments - that Turkey belongs to a different cultural sphere and has no place in Europe.
The BBC's Arab affairs analyst, Magdi Abdelhadi, says the reason for the vehemence of Muslim reaction is simple: America's global "war on terror" is perceived by many Muslims as a modern crusade against Islam.
But he says the culture of 24-hour news, whereby comments can be taken out of context, disseminated and recycled, has also played a part.
'Renunciation of violence''Renunciation of violence'
In Germany, the Pope's homeland, Chancellor Merkel said the Pope had spoken in favour of dialogue between religions, "which is something I also support and consider urgent and necessary.In Germany, the Pope's homeland, Chancellor Merkel said the Pope had spoken in favour of dialogue between religions, "which is something I also support and consider urgent and necessary.
HAVE YOUR SAY Pope Benedict probably should self-criticise Christianity's violent past before commenting on the other faith John Lin, Illinois Send us your comments Vatican braced for anger
"What Benedict XVI emphasised was a decisive and uncompromising renunciation of all forms of violence in the name of religion," she said."What Benedict XVI emphasised was a decisive and uncompromising renunciation of all forms of violence in the name of religion," she said.
READ THE SPEECH Read the Pope's speech [37KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The Vatican has also rejected the interpretation of the pontiff's remarks as an attack on Islam, and has said he intended no offence.The Vatican has also rejected the interpretation of the pontiff's remarks as an attack on Islam, and has said he intended no offence.
But denunciations of the speech continued around the world.
In Turkey, the first Muslim country the Pope is due to visit in November, BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford says the criticism is mounting, not fading.
[The Pope] is going down in history in the same category as leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini Salih KapusuzDeputy leader, Turkey's ruling AK party Key excerpts: Pope's speech In quotes: Muslim reaction In pictures: Muslim anger
Politicians have echoed a demand by the country's most senior religious official that the Pope should apologise.
Salih Kapusuz, deputy leader of the ruling AK party, said the Pope "is going down in history for his words. He is going down in history in the same category as leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini."
In other developments:
  • Several thousand Palestinians marched in protest in the Gaza Strip, and a report said four small homemade bombs exploded near the oldest Christian church in Gaza City, with no casualties
  • Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told the Associated Press the Pope must explain himself, and said the statements exposed a lack of understanding of Islam
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations called the remarks "inaccurate and divisive"
  • Pakistan summoned the Vatican's ambassador to express regret over the remarks, as parliament passed a resolution condemning the comments
    • The BBC's Arab affairs analyst, Magdi Abdelhadi, says the reason for the vehemence of Muslim reaction is simple: America's global "war on terror" is perceived by many Muslims as a modern crusade against Islam.
    But he says the culture of 24-hour news, whereby comments can be taken out of context, disseminated and recycled, has also played a part.
    'By the sword'
    In his speech at Regensburg University, the German-born Pope explored the historical and philosophical differences between Islam and Christianity, and the relationship between violence and faith.In his speech at Regensburg University, the German-born Pope explored the historical and philosophical differences between Islam and Christianity, and the relationship between violence and faith.
    READ THE SPEECH href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/15_09_06_pope.pdf" class="">Read the Pope's speech [37KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here Stressing that they were not his own words, he quoted Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire, the Orthodox Christian empire which had its capital in what is now the Turkish city of Istanbul. Stressing that they were not his own words, he quoted Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire, the Orthodox Christian empire which had its capital in what is now the Turkish city of Istanbul.
    The emperor's words were, he said: "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."The emperor's words were, he said: "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 said "I quote" twice to stress the words were not his and added that violence was "incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul".Benedict said "I quote" twice to stress the words were not his and added that violence was "incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul".