"....Most Muslims in Germany are of Turkish heritage. Cardinal Ratzinger spoke out against admitting predominantly Muslim Turkey to the European Union because it would dilute the continent's Christian character. Turks were outraged at what they saw as racist exclusion.
Mahmut Askar, a prominent Muslim leader in Cologne, said he was not surprised at the pope's stern lecture. Muslims, he said, are routinely and unfairly blamed as a group for the terrorism committed by a handful of Islamic extremists.
"We are used to this," Askar, a Turkish-born engineer who has lived in Germany for more than three decades, said in an interview. He is the secretary-general of an organization that represents Turkish Muslims in Germany.
"No one would blame Christianity for terror acts committed by a Christian. But Muslims are always blamed," he said. "What else can we do to show the world that we are not born terrorists?"
Still, Askar chose his words carefully and chose to thank the pope rather than criticize him."
More:Pope Talks Tough About Terrorism and Islam - Los Angeles Times