Papal remarks fuel ire

DELHI: The fury over papal remarks on Islam reached India on Friday with protests erupting at several places. As Muslims shouted angrily in Srinagar and Lucknow, Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari called Pope Benedict XVI's remarks on Islamic teachings "violent".
He issued a veiled warning to western powers, especially the US and the UK, against provoking yet another inter-religion war.
Echoing similar views, the head of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) said the Pope sounded like a 'mediaeval crusader'. "The language used by the Pope sounds like that of his 12th-century counterpart who ordered the crusades," said NCM chairman Hamid Ansari.
In Jammu and Kashmir, hundreds of people, including lawyers, held protests even as authorities put hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Democratic Freedom Party leader Shabir Shah under house arrest.
The protesters, carrying placards against the Pope, marched through Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Terming his remarks "highly irresponsible", the protesters shouted slogans like "Down with the Pope, long live Islam".
In Lucknow, Shia and Sunnis jointly took a hard stand against the "blasphemous Pope". Friday sermons turned vitriolic as imams and religious heads slammed Islam ka dushman. "We don't want people to take to the streets and would ideally prefer a respectable solution,”said Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali, who led namaz at the Shahmeena Masjid.
"There is only one way to restore normalcy, the Pope must take back his words," Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali asserted.
At Bara Imambara, protesters came with placards saying Islam ke dushman Pope hosh mein aao. Shia leader Maulana Kalbe Jawwad said the Muslims will settle for no less than an unconditional apology from the Pope.
"Coming from a man with the stature of Pope, the statement is scandalous," said Zafaryab Jilani, member All-India Muslim Personal Law Board.
The Imarat-e-Shariah, one of the respected religious Muslim bodies, said, "The Pope's remark shows his lack of knowledge about the teachings of Islam. His attack on Islam is contrary to the principles of peace and harmony preached by the Christians," said Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi.