Press release

By the organization of the Islamic conference

On the pope’s recent statements on Islam

In a lecture he delivered on Tuesday 12 September 2006 at the University of Regensburg in Germany, entitled “Faith, Reason, and the University Memories and Reflections”, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has been discussing Islam, the Revered Person of the Prophet Mohamed (Peace Be Upon Him), and the attributes of God in the Holy Quran.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) regrets the quotations cited by the Pope on the Life of the Honorable Prophet Mohamed, and what he referred to as “spreading” Islam “by the sword”. The OIC further regrets the other derogatory fallacies defaming Islam in the text of the lecture.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference also regrets this smear campaign all the more so, as there was no justification to force it into the lecture, the Pope himself describing these remarks as gratuitous for the context and “marginal to the dialogue as a whole”. As it happens the quotations ended up indulging in a character assassination of the Prophet Mohamed, describing his actions as “evil and inhuman”, in flagrant contradiction with his well established reputation as the Prophet of Mercy for all of Humanity—a reputation which has endured for centuries on end the world over.

The attribution of the spread of Islam around the world to the shedding of blood and violence, which is “incompatible with the nature of God” is a complete distortion of the facts, which shows deep ignorance of Islam and Islamic history.

Since Islam has honored all prophets and messengers of God, making specific mention of Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) and his Immaculate Mother Mary, Daughter of Imran; conferring upon them, holiness, sanctity, and reverence; and making belief in Jesus’ prophethood and message—based on tolerance, forgiveness, and mercy—an integral part of a Muslim’s faith, the OIC has refrained from indulging in polemics concerning the crusades and religious wars prosecuted by the church in Europe in addition to the persecution of Muslims in inquisition courts in the name of Christ’s peaceful and tolerant message.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) hopes that this campaign is not the prelude of a new Vatican policy towards Islam, particularly after the many decades of dialogue which brought together Vatican clergy and leading thinkers and men of religion from the Muslim world, starting from the era of former Pope Paul VI. The OIC also hopes that the Vatican will issue statements that reflect its true position and views on Islam and Islamic teachings.

Jeddah, 14 September 2006

Main Page

More News form OIC.......