Insulting Islam breeds violence-Turk religious chief

ANKARA, Nov 28 (Reuters) Turkey's top Muslim official repeated today in the presence of Pope Benedict that Islam was not a religion of violence and that arguing so can only encourage those who abuse religion to do wrong.

Ali Bardakoglu, who heads Ankara's Directorate General for Religious Affairs which controls Turkish imams and writes their sermons, said all Muslims were offended by accusations that their religion was violent.

''Such accusations and attempts can only serve to encourage those who perform wrong-doing on behalf of religion by way of exploitation,'' he said in a speech.

Benedict infuriated Muslims worldwide in September with a lecture that appeared to Muslims to portray Islam as an irrational religion tainted by violence. Benedict later expressed regret over the pain his remarks caused but stopped short of a full apology.

REUTERS KR HT2210