The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) — a body that includes Muslim
scholars from across the Muslim world — condemned the pope's statement.

Describing the pope to be "a man who is supposed to be familiar with all
religions" the OIC, in a press statement, said such statements "increase
hate between Muslim and Christian nations. It will also increase the gap
between Muslims and Christians that many rational people from both sides are
trying to bridge."

The statement added that the OIC "regrets" the pope's comments about the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) saying that there was no "justification for such
statements."

"The OIC hopes that such surprising comments are not part of a new campaign
against Islam by the Vatican, especially after decades of dialogue that
brought scholars from the Muslims world together with scholars from the
Vatican."

Reacting to the comments, the Secretary-General of the International Islamic
Media Organization Dr. Muhammad ibn Sibyan Al-Johani appealed to the pope
not to "stoke the old embers of religious hatred and hostilities."

"At a time when intellectuals the world over are striving to bridge the gulf
between cultures and striving to steer the world away from extremist
ideologies ... we are left shocked by a personality whom the whole world
looks up to as the first person who would support the calls of sane people,"
said Al-Johani.

The secretary-general called on the pope to apologize and asked, "Will such
remarks serve Christian interests or will they widen the yawning gap between
the Muslims and Christians, particularly Catholics?"

Al-Johani added that he found it strange that the pope was ignoring
countless history books that referred to the equity and nobleness of Muslims
and limited himself to quoting a Byzantine emperor. "The pope should realize
that if we were to turn to the books of history to judge the issue then we
would find the Catholic Church to be the biggest loser... It would only
bring to surface the story of the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition," he
said, adding, "It would be better for us to not refer to history. We should
bury our old differences."

Dr. Jameel H. Al-Lowahiq, professor of Shariah at the Taif University, said
the remarks reveals "the enmity and grudge the new pope" harbors "toward
Islam and our Prophet."

"The lecture of the present pope, particularly at the time of deep
international crisis, betrays the utter lack of prudence and propriety in
sensing the consequences of making such a statement," said Al-Lowahiq.

He added that that the pope was probably not aware of what the English
philosopher Bernard Shaw said about the Prophet, in that the world badly
needed a man like the Prophet Muhammad who placed his religion at an
honorable position.

"I hope the pope will realize what Western and Christian historians wrote
about Islam. The pope's statement shows his and the entire Vatican's
weakness or rather nonexistent knowledge of Islam. It also reveals the
psychological hatred the pope has of Islam and the Prophet," added
Al-Lowahiq.

"He should have more knowledge of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, he is
quoting a Byzantine ruler and ignoring the writings of honest Christian
researchers who speak with credibility," he said.

Sheikh Muahmmad Al-Homaidi, judge at the Court of Grievances in Jeddah
described the quotes as "baseless lies and fabrications about the Prophet,
whose advent was a mercy to the entire world."

"The motive behind the provocative statement from such a high personality,
who is expected to take the initiative in dialogue between Christians and
Muslims is difficult to understand," Al-Homaidi said. The judge feared the
remarks were an indication of the worsening relationship between different
communities because of venomous statements that are more appropriate for the
middle ages.

"Such statements will only provoke hatred between Islamic and Christian
societies especially since we know that the Islamic world has not got over
the cartoon fiasco. The pope should have taken a role in calming the
situation and not provoke Muslims by saying that their Prophet brought evil.
What are the motives behind these statements from a man who we hope would
bring dialogue between Muslim and Christian nations and not the other way
round," he said.

"Such statements will just take us back to the middle ages. We Muslims are
peaceful but we will not be quiet when provoked like this," he said.

British expatriate Sohail Nakhooda, editor in chief of the Islamica Magazine
in Amman and someone who has studied Christian theology at the Vatican and
closely observed the Catholic Church from within, said he was "not at all
surprised" at the comments.

"I don't think he understands Islam or has the same concern to promote
interfaith relations as did the late Pope John Paul II who took great steps
in improving relations with Muslims. In the days when Pope Benedict was
still known as Cardinal Ratzinger and as the Prefect of the Congregation of
the Doctrine of the Faith, he was well known for his theological
conservatism and combative attitude to many contemporary issues the church
faced," said Nakhooda, adding that the current pope's "antiquated
perspectives on Islam are likely to make him a concern for the foreseeable
future."

"I think he romanticizes Europe's debt to Christianity and sanitizes the
church's history and its own relationship to power and violence. Yet he does
have a lot of valuable things to say about the nature of secularism and its
problems. I think Muslims need to engage with him positively on theological,
historical and spiritual fronts," he said.

Father Francis Tiso from the Washington-based US Conference of Catholic
Bishops "urged people to read the lecture carefully in more than one
language if possible."

He said, "A close reading of the lecture at Regensberg opens up the
possibility of a profound dialogue between Catholics and Muslims, as well as
other religious communities around the world who value rational discourse in
harmony with deep faith and commitment."


*OIC adopts seven Resolution*.
JEDDAH, 15 September 2006 — The ministers of information of the 57-member
Organization of the Islamic Conference concluded their discussions yesterday
at the Seventh Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers by
adopting seven resolutions recommended by the preparatory meetings with some
adjustments.

"We wanted this session to be different in having only few resolutions with
specific timelines and mechanism for implementation," said OIC
Secretary-General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu at a press conference after
the session. "There is a real will for change and a new direction and view.
We hope to achieve these goals during the next two years."

The first resolution involves setting up an OIC committee within six months
that would prepare a global media communications strategy using language the
outside world understands and the concepts consonant with its logic and
mental structures.

Another resolution involved agreeing to establish a code of ethics for media
in the Islamic states, particularly with regard to satellite channels. The
code would seek to promote diversity and pluralism while preserving Islamic
values and interests. As opposed to setting up a specialized panel of
experts to design the code, the ministers appointed the General Secretariat
of the OIC to do that while the member states are to submit to it their
suggestions and views. The code is to be completed within six months and
presented to the current chair of the conference.

Kuwaiti minister Muhammad Al-Sanousi said that we need to admit our faults
and improve ourselves first before reacting to outside media and complaining
about their coverage.

Asked about whether some of the Arab media increased the divisions in the
Muslim world, he said, "Yes there are some channels that do that for
sensationalism and fame.

"Freedom of the press has ethics and guidelines," he said "The media has a
responsibility and should not work at creating conflicts."

Jordanian minister Taleb Rifai also said that we need to be self critical
and put all efforts at coming out with a clear strategy for joint media
projects that serve the Muslim community and Islam and communicate with the
outside world.

"Respecting our difference is needed but also focusing on the common things.
There is an attack on Islam and we have to present the true image of Islam
of tolerance. Transparency in the media is always wanted but at the same
time there has to be a commitment to professionalism and ethics," he said.

Being fully aware of the dire necessity of organizing television campaigns
in the case of natural and human disasters, the conference decided in
another resolution that Islamic media should commit to hold domestic
campaigns in each member state to collect donations as it deems it
appropriate. The donations would be sent directly to the affected countries.
The conference called on the General Secretariat to organize the campaigns
so that they are aired on the same day in all OIC countries.

Saudi Minister of Information and Culture Iyad Madani said that the issue of
financing projects and country payments to the organization were key in the
discussions and are important for the successful implementation of the
resolutions.

"A solution was agreed on and that is forming a voluntary fund that would
enable the organization to move forward," said Madani.

The ministers agreed on the need to restructure the International Islamic
News Agency and recommended setting up a board of trustees under the
chairmanship of Saudi Arabia. The board may invite other news agencies as
observers and shall appoint whoever it sees fit to conduct a scientific
study for upgrading IINA.

As for the Islamic States Boarding Organization (ISBO), the conference
agreed to change it to Islamic Broadcasting Union and establish a board of
trustees to prepare within six months a plan to achieve its goals and
objectives. They also agreed to form a board of trustees for the union under
the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia to remain permanently in touch with
regional and international counterpart unions. They also recommended using
the Internet as well as traditional means to spread Islamic media messages.

The conference agreed on setting up a Ministerial Follow-up Committee
composed of 15 named OIC member countries, including Saudi Arabia. The
General Secretariat was asked to review the previous decisions and provide a
report on it in the next session.

The final resolution called for developing the information department in the
OIC by providing it with the necessary human and financial resources.

Lebanese minister Gazi Aridi who took the moment to commended the Arab and
some international media organizations on their courage and support during
the recent Israeli siege on his country, said he hoped for agreements on
reasonable decisions that can be implemented.

"What is needed I knowing how to defend our issues. We have all the means —
the money, the technology, the talent — but we need is a plan and vision.
The media has to operate in wise way and a conscious way in addressing the
other," he said.

He said that he supported freedom of the press but added that there has to
be guidelines based on ethical standards and a cover for all to operate
under.

Asked about Hassan Nassrallah's accusations of attacks by the media against
Hezbollah, he said that he had hoped that such words were not said. "The
Lebanese media played a vital role in strengthening the Lebanese people's
resilience and portraying the reality on the ground. We all saw how they
were a symbol of dignity and resistance in the battlefield. If there were
any comments they should have been said in another way," he told Arab News.

A panel of experts would create a working plan for committee approval. The
so-called Ministerial Supervisory Committee would consist of Saudi Arabia,
Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Malaysia, Senegal, Syria and Morocco. The conference
also agreed to set up a special fund fed by contributions from the OIC
member states to finance the programs and projects contained in the plan.

Additional recommendations were also adopted during the full session,
including one proposing that member states reduce travel restrictions of
journalists from OIC member states when traveling to other OIC member
states. Recommendations related to the right of citizens to have access to
information as well as closing the digital gap between developed and
developing countries were also adopted.

Foreign policy issues were also addressed, with OIC ministers agreeing on
stances related to Israel's occupation of Syria's Golan Heights and the
Shebaa Farms region. The OIC ministers also agreed to hold a united stance
on the autonomy of Iraq in light of the US invasion and occupation and Sudan
in light of discussion over the deployment of peacekeepers to the
war-ravaged Darfur region bordering Chad.

The ministers also agreed to hold this session every two years in September;
exceptional meetings could also be held if necessary. The next session of
OIC information ministers is scheduled for Morocco in September 2008. The
ministers also agree to keep these meetings public unless the chairman
recommends otherwise. In order to save time at these sessions, the ministers
also agreed to set a time limit on speeches and for these statements to be
prepared in advanced.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤