Page 159 - Islam Denounces Terrorism

Adnan Oktar (Harun Yahya) 157

Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror granted many concessions to the Patriarchate. The
Patriarch enjoyed autonomy for the first time in history, under Turkish rule. In the
picture we see Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror receiving the Patriarch.

The non-Muslims were granted many rights also in the pre-
Ottoman Islamic states. Georgetown University's Professor of Religion
and International Relations John L. Esposito describes how Jews and
Christians who came under the administration of Muslim states met
with enormous understanding:

For many non-Muslim populations in Byzantine and Persian
territories already subjugated to foreign rulers, Islamic rule
meant an exchange of rulers, the new ones often more flexible
and tolerant, rather than a loss of independence. Many of these

populations now enjoyed greater local autonomy and often
paid lower taxes... Islam proved a more tolerant religion, pro-
viding greater religious freedom for Jews and indigenous
Christians. 13