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A hitherto unknown group calling itself the Swords of Islamic Right on Saturday threatened to blow up all churches and Christian institutions in the Gaza Strip to protest remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.

The group, which claimed responsibility for a shooting attack on the facade of a Greek Orthodox church in the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City on Saturday, said it would not accept an apology from the pope.

On Saturday, four other churches in Nablus were also attacked by Palestinians wielding guns, firebombs and lighter fluid.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite? ... 2FShowFull

I hope this is just a temporary aberation - by and large Christians and Muslims get on fine around the world.

There is no excuse for attacking places of worship and this is forbidden in the Quran, where Muslims are entrusted to actually protect these places.

Cheers,
Shafique

Sadly this just goes once again to destroying the concept that Islam is a peaceful religion, when the only way some people know how to react is with violence, it's pathetic. And all they're doing is proving the quote the Pope read to be correct. Do they not realise this fact?

Chocoholic wrote:Sadly this just goes once again to destroying the concept that Islam is a peaceful religion, when the only way some people know how to react is with violence, it's pathetic. And all they're doing is proving the quote the Pope read to be correct. Do they not realise this fact?

The question I would is ask is: Why should the actions of a tiny minority of people acting against the tenets of their religion 'destroy the concept that Islam is a peaceful religion'.

I think that the actions of a few tarnishing a whole religion is the sad part.

How many people argued that Catholicism was evil after an IRA bomb killed women and children. Why did not those acts 'destroy the concept that Christianity is a peaceful religion' ?

Chocoholic wrote:Sadly this just goes once again to destroying the concept that Islam is a peaceful religion, when the only way some people know how to react is with violence, it's pathetic. And all they're doing is proving the quote the Pope read to be correct. Do they not realise this fact?

these kind of people do not care what the pope say, or anyone else for that matter, if they ever cared we will not have seen any violence. These people can only listen to themselves, and anyone else oppose to their actions will be their enemy including Muslims.

Shaf, you're right, the actions of a few should not tarnish the image of the whole. But when certain groups keep on creating such a fuss and causing mayhem everytime something is said, drawn or whatever that they don't agree with, what do you expect?

And don't get the IRA thing and Catholicism confused, that has nothing to do with religion as such, but wanting a free state.