TIES between the Vatican and Muslims are in the spotlight again ahead of Pope Benedict XVI's Holy Land tour, with Islamists demanding he apologise for controversial remarks linking Islam to violence. Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood and its powerful political arm the Islamic Action Front (IAF) have insisted that the pope, who visits the kingdom from May 8-11 ahead of a trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories, should apologise for his statements 'against Islam and the Prophet Mohammed'.
The German-born head of the Roman Catholic church met with ambassadors of Muslim countries in the Vatican, which enjoys ties with various Islamic organisations around the world.
In the most stunning gesture, he assumed the posture of Muslim prayer at Istanbul's Blue Mosque, accompanied by a Muslim dignitary, during a visit to Turkey in November 2006.
The most prominent initiative has been the creation of a Catholic-Muslim forum, which held its first meeting in November and issued a joint call for religious freedom, non-violence and a fairer world.
But in Jordan, Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Jamil Abu Baker has called on the pontiff to postpone his trip 'until certain issues are addressed'. 'His visit to the region should reflect coexistence between Muslims and Christians. Provocative positions do not serve this purpose,' Abu Baker said on the movement's website.
Despite the Islamists' opposition, the Jordanian government is pulling out all the stops to welcome the pope to the kingdom, where around 200,000 Christians, half of them Catholic, live among the nearly six million population.
Political analyst Mustafa Hamarneh said the Islamists' reaction was 'normal considering the perception they have about the pope.
The Islamists also strongly criticised the pope's plans to go to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, but not to visit Gaza.
A senior Islamic leader said Benedict should do more to restore confidence among Muslims.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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