The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization –ISESCO- denounced the offending statements made by Pope Benedict XVI against Allah's Messenger Mohammed, peace and prayer be upon him, as they distort the historical truths that the advent of Islam has considerably re-shaped the course of human civilization and brought about the scientific methodology that constitutes the basis for the European Renaissance. In a statement issued here today, ISESCO expressed its surprise that the Head of the Catholic Church issued statements that would widen the existing gap between the Islamic world and Europe and mar the action undertaken jointly by international and Islamic parties with the aim of reconciling relations between the occident and the orient within the framework of enhancing dialogue of cultures and cementing alliance of civilizations through concrete initiatives. Surprisingly, the Vatican has a directorate operating in the field of dialogue among religions to which ISESCO has contributed for several years. Furthermore, ISESCO called upon the Pope to withdraw his declarations which provoked a billion and a third Muslims around the world and to expressly apologize for his statements against the Prophet Mohammed and Islam. In addition, the communiqué pointed out that respect for divine religions and for all prophets is a prerequisite for preserving peaceful relations among all believers, which, in turn, constitutes the cornerstone of peace and security in the world. By the same token, ISESCO reaffirmed that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance as it has spread over the world, either in the past or in the present, through conviction and willingness but not through coercion. Indeed, history bears testimony to the fact that Muslims preserved the Churches and Synagogues and protected the lives and properties of Christians and Jews. Allah says, “There is no coercion in Islam”. Moreover, Islam calls for rationality and meditation and its teachings do not contradict good sense. ISESCO also pointed out that the concept of Jihad in Islam means self-defence against any aggression, and means also the purification of the soul with good deeds and the pursuit of moral, intellectual, scientific and innovative perfection to shape a prosperous, good life for human beings. ISESCO's communiqué recalled the crusades that were incited by Catholic popes against Islam and Muslims and lasted for two centuries, led to massive bloodshed took thousands innocent lives in Muslim countries. These wars were orchestrated by some European Kings. The communiqué also recalled the colonialist wars waged by some European countries in many parts of the world, causing a huge cleansing of hundreds of thousands of people, and converting survivors to Christianity by coercion and force. The communiqué stated that the name “ Crusades” was launched by fanatic Europeans in the Middle Ages, while Muslims referred to them by “the Frank wars”; which confirms that Islam is innocent of the allegations levelled at it as being fanatic and hostile to non Muslims. ISESCO also underlined that accusing Islam of terrorism is utterly wrong and inconceivable. For terrorism is a criminal act for which only its perpetrators shall be accountable, and that can by no means be attributed to any religion. ISESCO called in its communiqué to avert rousing feelings of hatred, fanaticism and discrimination in a world that aspires to peace, security and co-existence of civilizations.
