Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Pope's remarks

Pope Benedict XVI's remarks on Islam during a speech in Germany in which he quoted Emperor Manuel Paleologos II are unfortunate. Even before the end of the furore over the publication of Prophet Muhammad's caricatures in a Danish newspaper in the name of freedom of expression come the Pope's comments on jihad. Such discourses that have the potential to create a rift among communities are best avoided in the interest of inter-faith harmony.

Nakshab Khan,
Aligarh, U.P.

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A leader of the Pope's stature is expected to promote unity among communities. Unfortunately, he does not seem to have factored in the consequences his remarks would have worldwide.

Shailesh Kumar,
Bangalore

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Islam has come under attack ever since it was founded. But it is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. This in itself is a befitting answer to its critics.

Sahira Banu,
Bangalore

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In the context of the Pope's remarks on Islam, which have created an unnecessary controversy, I quote historian Edward Gibbon. He writes: "A pernicious tenet has been imputed to the Mahometans, the duty of extirpating all other religions by the sword. This charge of ignorance and bigotry is refuted by the Koran, by the history of the Musulman conquerors, and by their public and legal toleration of the Christian worship." (Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire, Chapter LVIII: The First Crusade, Para 5). I wish the Pope had given more credence to history than to the opinion of an ill-informed medieval king.

Mohammed Zaki Ansari,
New Delhi

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The Byzantine emperor's views were ill-informed and bigoted. One would expect a religious leader such as the Pope to act and speak with responsibility and repudiate the emperor's views in the interests of truth and harmonious relations between the followers of Islam and Christianity. His remarks have understandably caused a lot of dismay and hurt throughout the Muslim world.

Shahnawaz Warsi,
Aligarh, U.P.

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While one can understand the outrage of Muslims, one fails to understand how violent protests can help. On the contrary, they will lend credence to what the Pope is reported to have said.

Dominic Ayyanikkatt,
Karur, T.N.

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Pope Benedict XVI's remarks have fanned the simmering religious animosity between Muslims and Christians. The frenzy it has evoked in the Muslim world is ominous. What should be of concern to us in the third world is that as humanity gets caught in yet another frivolous controversy, the real issues of poverty and privations get further relegated to the background in nations' consciousness.

Manohar Alembath,
Chennai

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