A Muslim scholar involved in talks at the Vatican to improve dialogue between Catholicism and Islam says Pope Benedict XVI’s baptism of a prominent convert from Islam was a deliberately “provocative” act.
Aref Ali Nayed says the baptism was done at an “unfortunate” time because of Catholic-Muslim tensions.
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The pope baptised Egyptian-born Magdi Allam in globally televised Easter vigil service in St Peter’s Basilica. Allam is a TV and newspaper commentator on terrorism and Islamic issues. Nayed made his comments on Tuesday. He is the director of Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in Amman, Jordan.
