Islam 'propping up backward despots'

Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey has angered Muslims by making a startling attack on their faith.

Lord Carey said Islam was "undemocratic and authoritarian" and that its culture had achieved little for centuries. He painted a stark picture of a religion stuck in the middle ages practised in backward countries ruled by despots.

Muslims criticised him for " trampling on a sensitive area" and said they were "saddened" by the surprise intervention from such a leading Christian figure. Ministers were also unimpressed, following Tony Blair's meeting with Libyan president Muammar Gadaffy and escalating violence in the Middle East.

Dr Carey spoke out in Rome, on the eve of a seminar of Christian and Muslim leaders led by new Archbishop Rowan Williams. He said most Muslims wanted peace and should not be demonised, but added that Islamic-inspired terrorist attacks raised difficult questions.

"Throughout the Middle East and North Africa, we find authoritarian regimes with deeply entrenched leadership, some of which rose to power at the point of a gun and are retained in power by massive investment in security forces.

"Although we owe much to Islam ...it is sad to relate that no great invention has come for many hundred years from Muslim countries." He added: "Sadly, apart from a few courageous examples, very few Muslim leaders condemn clearly and unconditionally the evil of suicide bombers who kill innocent people."