Ahmadinejad thanks Pope for condemning Koran burning
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written a letter to Pope Benedict XVI thanking him for condemning an American pastor's threat to burn the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
"I thank you for your stance in condemning the unwise act of a church in Florida, America, in insulting the word of God which hurt the hearts of millions of Muslims," Ahmadinejad said in the letter which was posted on the website of his office.
Ahmadinejad told the pontiff that there was a "need for a close cooperation of divine religions to restrict destructive moves such as ignoring of religious teachings, influencing people to be materialistic which were eroding human societies, especially families and the young generation."
The letter was delivered on Wednesday to the pontiff himself by the Iranian Vice President in charge of parliamentary affairs Mohammad Reza Mirtajodini.
The Pope last month denounced pastor Terry Jones' threat to burn the Muslim holy book.
"I pray for the victims and I ask respect for religious freedom and that the logic of reconciliation and peace prevail over hatred and violence," the pontiff said at the Vatican.
Jones cancelled the plan to burn Korans after enormous pressure from world leaders including US President Barack Obama. But the mere threat to burn the Muslim holy book sparked riots and protests around the world.
On the eve of the planned destruction of the Korans, Ahmadinejad had said the plan was part of a "Zionist plot" that would end up in the speedy "annihilation" of Israel.
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Andrew Farrugia
Oct 7th 2010, 23:16
Any statement which is uttered by the Holocaust-denier, the 9/11 conspiracy theorist, the delinquent who goes by the name of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is immensely suspect.
v mercieca
Oct 7th 2010, 12:08
As Muslims do not have one head of religion as the Catholic Church as the Pope, it would be a good idea if all the imams and ayatollahs would follow the Pope’s example and condemn all the terrorists and ask them to respect other religions also.
J Farrugia
Oct 7th 2010, 10:33
Why should you be a fierce critic of the catholic church. Is it only when islamic matters enter into the equation that you see something positive in the catholic Church? Where are your values? What values do you cherish? The church like any other institution is made of people - common people, so who do you think you are to be a fierce critic of the catholic church. where is your humility? How can we take you seriously when you a common martal like us, criticise "fiercely" the catholic church, and on what grounds do you chastise the church? Hypocrisy has got many faces today. just like the pot calling the kettle black.
Robert Callus
Oct 7th 2010, 20:53
If I criticize something or someone, I'm just exercising my freedom of expression, something you do regularly after all. It doesn't make me arrogant at all. Yes I do criticize the Catholic church especially on its discriminatory stand towards homosexuals and separated persons. I have also criticized the Maltese Muslim community on the former (I don't criticize the whole Islamic community on this for the simple reason that in Islam there is not centralized figure like the Pope).
You may disagree with my values, fair enough in a democratic society. However if there is something you can't blame me of is hypocrisy. Just tell me where I was inconsistent. Do I have to either agree or disagree with the church all the time? I think that's quite a fundamentalist approach.
Robert Callus
Oct 7th 2010, 10:07
For obvious reasons I am many times a fierce critic of the Catholic church, and this Pope in particular. However I give credit where it's due.
The war on terror is not a war on Islam, unlike many Americans and European elite want people to think. There is no Christianity vs Islam. It is neoliberals (and perhaps Zionists) against the Taliban and other Jihadists. In other words elite vs another elite, while the poor receive all the blows.
The Catholic church should be commended for not buying this bull. Mainly thanks to its stand (as well as most Muslim authorities) there is no problem between the honest Catholic and the honest Muslim. Let the elite fight it out, and leave people out of it. Thumbs up to the Pope on this case (NOT to Ahmadinejad who speculates on friction and conflict for personal gain)
Eric Gahn
Oct 7th 2010, 11:07
Yes yes it is all the fault of Zionists and neoliberals. I also blame basket weavers, nut crackers and ice cream vendors for this war. Shame on them.
Robert Callus
Oct 7th 2010, 20:44
Please don't misquote me. I didn't say it's just the neoliberals and Zionists. That is only one side. The other is the Taliban/Jihadists and politicians like Ahmadinejad. My point is that it's elite vs elite while the common citizen in both sides is the victim. I praise the Catholic church on this for the reason that it is siding with the common citizen rather than serve the elite.