 (AKI) - Italy's Moroccan Women's Association is to take part in an event on Wednesday to reflect on the decision by a prestigious Rome university to oppose a visit by Pope Benedict XVI. The secular event was being organised by the Rome office of the Italian daily, Il Foglio, led by Giuliano Ferrara. "The decision to support the secular gathering of conversation and mediation 'on the character of the dispute over freedom of speech' of Benedict XVI at La Sapienza University is a protest against censorship," association president, Souad Sbai, told Adnkronos International (AKI). "It represents a surrender to extremists and is similar to what happens towards moderate Muslims who on many occasions are censored."
Pope Benedict XVI cancelled a planned visit to Rome's La Sapienza University after widespread protests from academics and students to his position on the astronomer Galileo.
| Galileo? He's dead, right? Been awhile now, if I remember correctly... |
| ... they have to have some excuse to protest the man ... |
In a short statement late on Tuesday, the Vatican said the pontiff's visit, which was to coincide with the inauguration of the academic year on January 17, would not proceed. Sbai wondered how it was possible for Italians to have extreme Left lectures and accept Islamic fundamentalist thinkers while blocking the head of the Catholic church from attending the university. "They put the welcome mat out for various extremists that are invited to the univerisity while the Pope cannot speak," she told AKI. "There are so many incongruencies if you think about it - that Benedict XVI could freely enter the Turkish university and mosques (during his visit to Turkey) and now cannot go to the university in a country that is so-called civilised."
| I've often wondered about that myself. My mind's obviously not subtil enough to comprehend it. E pur se muove. |
The president of the women's organisation questioned the meaning of interreligious dialogue. "In most of the Arab countries a thing of this kind could never happen because if a guest was invited it would be unacceptable to chase him away in this manner."
The evening event is being organised at the headquarters of Il Foglio to defend the Pope's right to freedom of speech. Ferrara announced the gathering in the last few days initially to discuss abortion. He said the Rome university was in a pitiful state and said that staff and students wanted to deny Pope Benedict the right to freedom of speech. |