(24 Nov 2006)
1. Wide shot of Beyazit mosque exterior
2. Various of men praying
3. Mid shot of men leaving the mosque
4. Men handing out flyers calling people to demonstrate against the Pope's visit
5. Close-up of flyers being handed out
6. Wide shot of people leaving mosque and walking past line of police
7. Line of police officers carrying shields in front of mosque
8. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Voxpop, worshipper:
"The Pope is a head of state, he is the head of the Vatican. I don't care about his religious position. I don't see any problem with his visit to Turkey."
9. Pan from entrance of mosque to police officers
10. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Voxpop, worshipper:
"Personally, as a Muslim and as a nationalist, I am against his trip. I don't want him to come."
11. Wide shot of people leaving mosque
STORYLINE:
Police waited outside Istanbul's Beyazit mosque following Friday prayers in anticipation of protests against the visit of Pope Benedict XV to Turkey next week.
Despite the presence of officers carrying riot shields, worshippers dispersed peacefully, but leaflets calling on Muslims to demonstrate against the visit were distributed.
Following prayers, worshippers had mixed opinions about the visit which has caused controversy in the wake of recent remarks made by the Pope in which he linked Islam and violence.
"Personally, as a Muslim and as a nationalist, I am against his trip. I don't want him to come," said one man.
Others, however, were more ambivalent on the issue,
"The Pope is a head of state, he is the head of the Vatican. I don't care about his religious position. I don't see any problem with his visit to Turkey," another man
It is expected Pope Benedict XV will use the visit as a chance to assuage Muslim anger over the comments and will also press Turkey, which hopes to join the European Union, for improved rights for its tiny Christian community.
Around 99 percent of Turkey's 70 million (m) population are Muslim.
Turkey also has some 20-thousand Roman Catholics, 65-thousand Armenian Orthodox Christians, around 2-thousand Greek Orthodox
Christians, an estimated 3-thousand 500 Protestants - mostly converts from Islam - and 23-thousand Jews.
Benedict's first trip to a Muslim nation comes at a time of heightened tensions between the West and Islam.
The Muslim world erupted in protest after Benedict delivered a speech in September in which he quoted a Byzantine emperor who
characterised some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the
sword the faith."
Benedict has offered his regrets that his speech caused offence and has stressed that the quotes did not reflect his personal opinion.
He has also expressed esteem for Islam.
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