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September 28, 2006
The Mutual Distrust Between East & West
Tom Heneghan, the religion editor of Reuters, has recently written a good analysis of how the Pope's controversial remarks about Islam are perceived in the Muslim world. The Istanbul-based story titled "Both sides feel threats in Pope-Islam row" includes the following comments from me:
Both sides feel threatened and insulted," said Mustafa Akyol, an Istanbul commentator on Muslim affairs. "Muslims see this as part of a whole campaign, in the same line as the Afghan and Iraq wars and Abu Ghraib," he said, "In the West, they think they're under attack by 'jihad' and an intolerant Muslim religion…"Akyol said only small minorities on either side actually wanted a clash, but the reasonable dialogue needed to understand each other requires a calm he cannot now see. "People here tell me I'm wasting my time," said Akyol, who describes himself as a moderate Muslim. "They say the Westerners have made up their mind. We're the new enemy after communism and they only want to take Muslim oil. Unless we calm down, it will only get worse."
Thanks to Tom Heneghan for this good summary of my views.
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at September 28, 2006 2:40 PM
Nice link!
The more I read about Paleologus the more disappointed I am in Ratzinger. His discourse is not worthy of someone of his stature.
He seems to be having a hard time transitioning from the head of the holy inquisition, rather, "Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" to the head of the world-wide Roman Catholic church.
John Paul II is sorely missed.
Posted by: Johnny at September 29, 2006 4:03 AM
I'm impressed by your articles, giving rise to hope where I held none before. Then I realize there is not enough voices like you to make a difference in Turkey. I noticed , even you have some flawed judgements regarding attrocities committed by Muslim Exteremists. For example, a) Afghan War cited as basis for distrust without elobarating that this war just for Taliban gov protected killers of more than 3000 Americans and they would not give them up b) Iraq War - I agree that there is legitimate basis for debate here c)Abu Ghraib Incident - While one can raise objections to the treatment, it is outrageous to bring that to the level of moral equivalance with the terrorist butchers who made "live beheadings" a TV sport. Are you implying the same nation (Turkey) who watched these killings got "justifiably" outraged by prisoners wearing bags over their heads? Where is the moral outrage by Turks when they watched the beheadings?
Despite these differences, I enjoyed reading your writings. Please keep it up!
Posted by: Celal at October 4, 2006 9:06 PM
I strongly recommend John L Allen JR's article about Pope's visit to Turkey
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2006d/112406/112406h.php
Posted by: aysegul at November 22, 2006 3:05 PM