Turkish Nationalists against Pope Visit to Istanbul

PanARMENIAN.Net - Police on Wednesday detained about 40 out of 120 members of a Turkish nationalist party who occupied one of Istanbul's most famous buildings, the Haghia Sophia, to protest Pope Benedict XVI's visit next week, reports the AP. The protesters belong to the Great Unity Party, a far right-wing group that has previously staged demonstrations against the planned Nov. 28-Dec. 1 visit. Video footage showed several dozen men entering the 6th century former Byzantine church and mosque. The action continued until the police arrived and dispersed its participants.



The Vatican downplayed the protest. «I continue to consider these events sporadic and limited, and as such they do not put into question the substance and climate of the visit, which we expect will be serene,» Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi was quoted as telling the ANSA news agency. «These facts do not give rise to particular worries, although they do cause regret,» he said, according to the report. However, they are not a surprise since we know that there are groups who are not in favor of the pope's visit.»



Representatives of radical groups in Turkey have promised to hold large-scale protest actions if the Pontiff nevertheless visits the country. In their turn authorities assured canceling the visit is impossible and all security measures will be taken.



Turkey will be the first Muslim country to host the head of the Roman Catholic Church.