(AGI, Sept 11 2004) "We must condemn terrorism thoroughly and without exceptions. At the same time, however, we must not condemn Islam as a religion. Otherwise terrorists, who are a minority, will gain more and more followers". Thus Cardinal Roberto Tucci, chairman of Radio Vaticana, expressed his disagreement with rising religious intolerance due to the media giving Islam a bad name.
Interviewed by Radio One-O-Five, the FM channel of the Vatican Radio, the cardinal said: "Action against terrorism must be comprehensive and effective, but based on international law and respect of human rights". All this must be accomplished, he said, "without resorting to military action".
Cardinal Tucci, who in the past arranged several Pope visits to Islamic countries, added that "cooperation between intelligence services of democratic countries must be strengthened". He suggested that "it is necessary to monitor the way terrorists are financed and put economic and political pressure on the leaders of Arab and Muslim countries to encourage them to cut off links with terrorism. They need to be made aware that their support to terrorists will in the end damage their own country".
Stop Blaming Islam