Muslims find errors in Pope's presentation of Islam

PARIS, Oct 14 (Reuters) Senior Muslim scholars, taking up Pope Benedict's call for a frank dialogue, have written him an open letter listing factual errors in his recent speech on Islam that sparked protest across the Muslim world.

The 38 experts, including grand muftis from the Muslim world and scholars based in Britain and the United States, said they accepted the Pope's stated regrets over the uproar and his expressions of respect for all Muslims.

The politely worded letter challenged the former theology professor on his own area of expertise and gave him poor marks for misreading the Koran, failing to use terms correctly and citing obscure and possibly biased sources.

''The letter represents an attempt to engage with the papacy on theological grounds in order to tackle wide-ranging misconceptions about Islam in the Western world,'' said Islamica Magazine, an international quarterly on Muslim affairs that posted the open letter on its website today.

Managing editor Mohammad Khan told Reuters a copy of the letter would be handed to the Vatican nuncio (ambassador) tomorrow in Amman, where Islamica has an editorial office.

MISREADING THE KORAN Speaking in Regensburg in early September, Benedict quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor as saying Islam was evil and irrational and had been spread by the sword.

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