Muslim clerics call upon Pope to convert to Islam

Muslim clerics of Israel and areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority continue to demand apologies from Pope Benedict XVI for remarks he made in Germany one week ago. Mohammed Hussein, mufti of Jerusalem demanded today that the pontiff should offer a “a clear apology” for an address he made at the University of Regensburg that were interpreted by some in the Muslim as defaming their religion. The Pope quoted in his address the Byzantine Emperor Manuel Paleologos who had branded Islam as a religion spread by violence. An explanation of his address issued by the Vatican secretary of state, and a personal plea from Benedict XVI, has been widely rejected in the Muslim world. Hussein went on to say “So far, we consider the apology of the Vatican Pope insufficient…We firmly as the Vatican Pope to offer a personal, public and clear apology to the 1.5 billion Muslims in this world.”

The mufti blamed the Pope for Muslim violence, saying that the attacks on churches were “an angry reaction” stemming from intolerance and a desire to spread sedition. “We condemn any attack on churches, because it is an attack on the places of worship of others, protected clearly by Islam’” said the mufti, adding “The religion is clear, but I hold the Vatican Pope responsible for all of the anger in the Muslim street.”

Over the weekend, some seven Christian (mostly Catholic) churches were firebombed and sustained non-structural damage. Christians, who constitute but 2 percent of 3.4 million Palestinians, were nevertheless un-nerved.

Some Muslim clerics were less conciliatory. On Sunday, September 17, Muslim religious leaders in Gaza held a press conference in which they called upon Benedict XVI to “accept” Islam if he wants to live in peace. The Muslim clerics cited the Pope’s alleged “ignorance” and “hatred of Islam” as the inspiration for his Regensburg remarks. Dr. Imad Hamto called upon the Pope to repent and ask forgiveness, reminding him of the words of the Prophet Mohammed centuries ago “Aslim Taslam” – which some Muslims interpret as an exhortation to non-Muslims to convert to Islam in exchange for their lives. Hamto went on to say that Christians are resorting to the sword in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine, and called upon the Pope to instead address his attention to the Jews who, said the cleric, are “spreading destruction and corruption”.