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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤