Pope's remarks over Islam causes furore

Lucknow, Sept 15: Reacting sharply on reported 'unsavoury' remark of the Pope about Islam, the Muslim community today demanded his apology while resolving for a vehement protest.

A meeting of Muslims headed by Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad took place at the historical Asafi Imambara here after the friday prayers where agitated community members raised anti-Pope slogans.

Muslims gathered in large number at the Imambara displaying placards condemned the alleged statement of Pope which they said was 'disgraceful' and 'insulting' to any religion.

Later, Maulana Jawwad said generalising individual acts was highly objectionable. ''Any religion cannot be held responsible for the acts of a handful of people,'' he said demanding Pope apologised for the statement.

He said some Christians were responsible for terror acts in Bosnia and Ireland but Muslims never condemnded Christianity for the same. ''The Pope's statement is regretful and crores of Muslims all over the world are stunned at the pontiff's statement,'' he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP minority front also criticised it saying the statement coming from the religious leader was 'shocking'. ''Nobody has a right to hurt religious sentiments of people and Pope should be apologetic about it,'' BJP minority front national president Tanveer Haider Usmani told sources.

He maintained such statments always strengthened fundamentalists and should not be taken seriously.

UNI

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