october 3 , 2006

Muslim "Pope Rage" leads to Hijacked Airplane?

IIt looks like the Pope's upcoming visit to Turkey will be a largely noneventful affair that shows the true, supposedly peaceful face of Islam. At least, that's what Islamic apologists are hoping.

The unfortunate reality is that the Pope's visit in November may very well spark violence and rioting in one of the Muslim world's only secular "democracies" (one which, disturbingly, is taking on an increasingly Islamist tone). As if on cue, the Pope's comments on Islam last month--which sparked the predictable riots across the Muslim world--have now apparently led to a plane hijacking. Here's more, from BBC:

Two men who hijacked a Turkish airliner flying from Tirana to Istanbul have surrendered after the plane landed at Brindisi in southern Italy.
The two seem to have been protesting against plans for a visit to Turkey by the Pope after a speech he gave on religion sparked Muslim protests.

Fighter planes were scrambled as the airliner crossed Greek airspace.

All the Turkish Airlines plane's 107 passengers - including world beauty contestants - are said to be unhurt...

Both hijackers are said by Turkish media to be Turks.

andan Karlitekin, chairman of Turkish Airlines' board of directors, earlier said nobody had been hurt and the hijackers were apparently not threatening passengers.

Asked if the hijacking was a protest against the papal visit, Mr Karliteken told Turkish TV channel NTV: "The cockpit was told that it was a protest of this nature."

I'm waiting for more details to emerge about this incident before calling it a clear cut case of "pope rage." Whatever the case, it doesn't bode well for the Pope's already beleagured Turkish visit.