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[sgusa]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060914/wl_sthasia_afp/vaticanpopeindiaislammedia

SRINAGAR, India (AFP) - Police in Indian        Kashmir seized newspapers carrying        Pope Benedict XVI's strong criticisms of Islam and jihad, fearing a Muslim backlash in the flashpoint area.

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"We've seized copies of (Indian) newspapers carrying the pope's remarks. It has been done to prevent any tension here," a police officer said.

Copies of the Indian dailies were impounded at Srinagar's high-security airport when they arrived from New Delhi, he said on Thursday.

The pontiff hit out at Islam and the concept of holy war or jihad in a speech in Germany on Tuesday, citing a 14th-century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Mohammed had brought the world "evil and inhuman" things.

The Muslim league, a Kashmiri separatist group, called for a protest Friday over the pope's comments.

"Whatever has been said against our Prophet is unbearable," the group's chief Masarat Alam said. "It should be condemned by all."

Kashmir witnessed a wave of protests after a newspaper in Denmark published cartoons of Mohammed in September 2005 that were also reproduced elsewhere, mainly in Europe, triggering widespread demonstrations around the world.

Indian Kashmir is in the grip of a Muslim insurgency against New Delhi's rule that has left more than 44,000 people dead since 1989.

[toney]

First of all, I am not Catholic. So please bear in mind that i have no personal interest in defending the Catholic Pope.

In addition to the above news, I also saw a statement from some Pak minister (I think a lady) saying the Pope was ignorant about Islam. AFAIK, the pope never really mentioned Islam. He said that jihad was not conducive toworld peace. I would love to get an exact copy of his speech (relevant parts) before making a further comment on this. But this person is shrewd enough to understand that he cannot get away easily by unfairly criticizing Muslims and/or Mohammed. Secondly, he has got so many resources who will scrutinize each of his (prepared) public statements before he actually speaks. So I will take these rievances from the Kashmiris and Pakistanis with a lot of salt.

Finally, which is a bigger evil? Somebody mouthing off something unfair about a community (allegedly) or the Indian govt trying to stop that news from spreading around in the fear that Kashmiris, insulted by this will resort to violence? It is just like saying I called you an idiot, so you have theright to hurt/kill me. My action was wrong, yours will be worse. People living in a society cannot do such things nor should we accomodate such things.

[flute202020]

First of all, I am not Catholic. So please bear in mind that i have no personal interest in defending the Catholic Pope.

In addition to the above news, I also saw a statement from some Pak minister (I think a lady) saying the Pope was ignorant about Islam. AFAIK, the pope never really mentioned Islam. He said that jihad was not conducive toworld peace. I would love to get an exact copy of his speech (relevant parts) before making a further comment on this. But this person is shrewd enough to understand that he cannot get away easily by unfairly criticizing Muslims and/or Mohammed. Secondly, he has got so many resources who will scrutinize each of his (prepared) public statements before he actually speaks. So I will take these rievances from the Kashmiris and Pakistanis with a lot of salt.

Finally, which is a bigger evil? Somebody mouthing off something unfair about a community (allegedly) or the Indian govt trying to stop that news from spreading around in the fear that Kashmiris, insulted by this will resort to violence? It is just like saying I called you an idiot, so you have theright to hurt/kill me. My action was wrong, yours will be worse. People living in a society cannot do such things nor should we accomodate such things.

toney, remember my comment about most vociferous setting the agenda? this is what I meant

[toney]

Here is the pope's speech
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html

Here is one of the responses by Muslim clerics or people:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/somali-cleric-calls-for-popes-death/2006/09/16/1158334739295.html
There are other similar ones I could point to.