THE MAKKAH-BASED MUSLIM WORLD LEAGUE (MWL) HAS DEPLORED THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE POPE OF THE VATICAN ON TUESDAY ABOUT ISLAM AND PROPHET MOHAMMED (PEACE BE UPON HIM). A STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE MWL'S SECRETARY GENERAL DR ABDULLAH AL-TURKI SAID THE STATEMENT OF THE POPE WAS UNEXPECTED FOR THE ISLAMIC NATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE LOOKING FOR COEXISTENCE AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER NATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS. 'ABOUT 1.5 BILLION MUSLIMS DO CONDEMN AND DEPLORE ANY FORM OF INSULT TO THE PROPHET, PEACE BE ON HIM', SAID THE STATEMENT NOTING THAT ISLAM HAS BEEN TREATING NON-MUSLIM IN A MERCIFUL AND LENIENT MANNER. THE STATEMENT POINTED OUT THAT ISLAM URGES ITS FOLLOWERS TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR MENTAL CAPABILITIES IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE EARTH, AND SAID THE WESTERN CIVILIZATION HAD BENEFITED A LOT FROM THE ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION. THE STATEMENT WARNED AGAINST RECALLING HISTORICAL STATEMENTS SPELLED OUT DURING THE DARK AGES, AND SAID REPETITION OF SUCH STATEMENTS WILL GENERATE AND FUEL FEELINGS OF HATRED AND RETALIATION AND WILL HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE HUMAN COEXISTENCE AND DIALOGUE AMONG VARIOUS CREEDS AND CIVILIZATIONS. 'THE MWL WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE VATICAN TO AVOID GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO THOSE WHO WRONGLY PROMOTE SEDITION AND CONFLICTS OF CIVILIZATIONS', SAID THE STATEMENT. IT URGED THE POPE TO READ CAREFULLY THE ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES AND THE BIOGRAPHY OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMED (PEACE BE ON HIM). 'AS THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD CAN NOT AFFORD MORE CRISES AND DISPUTES, IT IS HIGH TIME FOR THE WISE LEADERS OF THE POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS TO EXERT MORE EFFORTS FOR EASING TENSIONS IN THE WORLD AND TO STOP INSULTING ISLAM AND ITS PROPHET', THE STATEMENT SAID. IT ALSO CALLED FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO ENHANCE THE PILLARS OF THE GLOBAL SECURITY AND PEACE AS WELL AS TO LIFT INJUSTICE AND FIGHT TERRORISM, VIOLENCE AND EXTREMISM.
