Newspapers around the world offered sharply differing verdicts Monday on the controversy sparked by Pope Benedict XVI's recent speech, in which he cited a medieval text describing the Prophet Mohammed's teachings as evil and inhuman. The pontiff had expressed deep regret over the offense caused, but Gulf-region papers argued the apology fell short.
Saudi daily Al-Yom accused the pope of feeding a "clash of civilizations" narrative promoted by American conservatives, while Qatar's Ash-Sharq dismissed his words as vague and called for a fuller, unambiguous retraction clearing Islam and its prophet of the allegations in his address.
European outlets took a different view, shifting criticism toward the intensity of the Muslim response. French paper Le Figaro blamed political actors for inflaming public anger, while Denmark's Ekstra Bladet, whose country endured protests over Mohammed cartoons the previous year, said some Muslims were too quick to demand apologies. Britain's Independent cautioned that stifling open debate through political pressure conceals genuine disagreements.
Commentators in Asia focused on the safety of Christian minorities in Muslim-majority nations, warning they could face violent reprisals. Malaysia's New Straits Times said the potential for hostility generated by a leader representing one billion Catholics exceeded even that of the Danish cartoon episode.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.