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Pope praised for making apology Pope urged to apologise further
(about 14 hours later)
Muslim groups in the UK have praised Pope Benedict XVI for apologising after Muslims were offended by his speech. Pope Benedict XVI has not apologised enough for making comments offensive to Muslims, Islamic leaders in the UK say.
The Vatican said the Pope was sorry he had offended Muslims by using a quote stating Muhammad had brought only "evil and inhuman" things to the world. In a statement, the Vatican said the Pope was "very sorry" for using a quote saying the Prophet Muhammad brought the world only "evil and inhuman" things.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the Pope made "a good first step" in "recognising the hurt he caused". The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) expressed concern the Pope had not "repudiated" the views he was quoting.
Ajmal Masroor of the Islamic Society of Britain said it was "greatly noble" of him to accept "his mistake". And Labour peer Baroness Uddin urged the pontiff to use his next Mass to say something "bridge-building".
Labour peer Baroness Uddin had earlier called the Pope's words a "throwaway irrelevant analysis of religion". Although she welcomed the apology, the baroness said the Pope needed to make a gesture towards building a "good interfaith relationship with the Muslim world".
The criticism of the Prophet Muhammad quoted by the Pope was made by 14th century Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire - the Orthodox Christian empire which had its capital in what is now the Turkish city of Istanbul. "I would urge his office that his grace should consider saying something which will be seen as bridge-building, which will be seen as peaceful," she said.
There is still a concern that he has not repudiated the views of the emperor Muslim Council of Britain There is still a concern that he has not repudiated the views of the emperor MCB
Reacting to the Pope's statement of regret, the MCB continued: "But [we are] not sure whether this is enough of an apology. "I would really welcome further steps from the Vatican office to ensure that the Pope takes the opportunity of saying something in his Mass."
"It would've been better if he'd said the views of the emperor no way accorded with his. There is still a concern that he has not repudiated the views of the emperor." In his speech, the Pope quoted criticism of Muhammad made by Emperor Manuel II Paleologos - a 14th Century Christian emperor.
The MCB had earlier said it would write an official letter asking the Pope to clarify his comments. The MCB said the Pope had made "a good first step" in "recognising the hurt he caused", but the group said they were "not sure whether this is enough of an apology".
And one of the UK's highest-ranking Muslim police officers, Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei, had called for calm. "It would have been better if he'd said the views of the emperor no way accorded with his. There is still a concern that he has not repudiated the views of the emperor."
Protests were unnecessary and played into the hands of those who claimed that Islam stifled free speech, he said. We must encourage Muslim communities to say 'fine, it's settled' Ajmal Masroor of the Islamic Society of Britain
In his speech at Regensburg University, the German-born Pope explored the historical and philosophical differences between Islam and Christianity, and the relationship between violence and faith. However, Ajmal Masroor of the Islamic Society of Britain, praised the Pope's apology, saying it was "greatly noble" of him to accept "his mistake".
"We must encourage Muslim communities to say 'fine, it's settled'," he said.
In the speech at Regensburg University, the German-born Pope explored the historical and philosophical differences between Islam and Christianity, and the relationship between violence and faith.
Stressing that the words were the emperor's and not his own he said: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."Stressing that the words were the emperor's and not his own he said: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."