25,000 Protest Pope's Visit to Turkey

(photo caption: A Turkish woman, wearing a headband that reads:"The ignorant and sneaky pope who insulted Islam and our Prophet should not come to Turkey", chants Islamic slogans during an anti-pope rally in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006. Thousands of Turks gathered in an Istanbul square to protest against the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI, planned for Tuesday, to this predominantly [over 99%] Muslim country. [AP Photo/Murad Sezer])

From the Associated Press:

More than 25,000 people joined demonstrations Sunday against Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit, police said.

The demonstration was the largest anti-pope protest so far ahead of Benedict's arrival Tuesday for a four-day visit, his first as pope to a predominantly Muslim country. Some 4,000 police backed by riot trucks, armored vehicles and helicopters monitored the protest as the crowds grew.

The protest was organized by a pro-Islamic political party called Felicity whose leaders have said they were offended by Benedict's comments in September linking violence and Islam.

BBC's coverage.

Interesting rumors about the Pope's visit to the Hagia Sophia:

And the eight minutes he [the Pope] is to spend in the cavernous St Sophia on Thursday afternoon will be watched and weighed for signals of the Vatican's true intent towards Turkey and, more crucially, the world's Muslims.

Will the pontiff pray at the place the Turks call Ayasofya and the Greeks know as Hagia Sophia? Will he genuflect? Or quietly reconsecrate the shrine? He is likely, say those in the know, to cross himself as he enters the museum. The risk is that Benedict will send Turkey's Muslims and much of the Islamic world into paroxysms of fury if there is any perception that he is trying to re-appropriate a Christian centre. [source]