Do you still encourage Muslims in Italy towards integration and political participation, if so, how can a Muslim integrate within such limitations?
Answer
I think it is fundmental for Muslims to integrate and particpate politically, each according to his political sensibility. In Italy, the government political parties are characterized by misunderstanding and even hostility towards our community. Obviously, in this situation, I accept my son's decision but I don't approve it.
Name
Dalida
- Swaziland
Profession
Question
Directly, is this rejection you assumed in the news relevant by any means to the Piccardo religion, Islam; if so, does the Italian law approve such rejection for candidates according to their ethnical grounds?
Answer
It's obviously clear that my son has been rejected because of his faith. He always said that he practices Islam. Of course the constitution and laws in Italy do not approve discrimination. But from a legal point view, each party has the right to approve or reject a candidate.
We are not dealing with the government here. Even if this governement is responsible for this situation. The actual government has politicaly raised many fear from others: and, of course, Muslim is considered as the other. A muslim is regarded as a strnager.
The political situation we have to deal to in Italy is dominated by a regression of civil rights.
Name
angelica
- Italy
Profession
teacher
Question
Please give us a brief summary about the Northern league party's statement rejecting Gabriele as a running candidate for the ruling conservative People of Freedom party
Answer
The Northern League had two positions. The first is On a national level: they said that there is an ideological incompatibility with the political program of the party. The second is on a local level: they said that he criticized the Northern League in many newspapers. In fact he criticized the Northern league afeter he has been rejected!
Name
Karema
-
Profession
Question
What the Piccardos intend to do later on?
Answer
We are denouncing in all ways what happened. This is not only a personal case, but something we have to speak about. I am sure that a relationship between Muslims and politics has still to be constructed. Politics depend on votes but Muslims who vote are few thousands out of millions of voters.
Name
fatma
-
Profession
Question
Is it relevant by any means to the critical position of Gabriele's father, Piccardo, his relations with UCOII, accused of being radical institution?
Answer
Of course it is relevant. If Gabriele was the son of aanother, it would have been different. UCOII is an association of Muslims that do believe in peace, dialogue, and safety of the country. It has been criminalized only because of its solidarity towards the Palestinian case and because it represented the autonomy of Muslims in Italy that others didn't look at positively.
Name
Laila
-
Profession
Question
What are the alternatives, solutions?
Answer
We are politically weak. We are crushed beween these hostile parties and the Arab governments that do nothing to help us and are trying to prevent Muslim autonomy in Italy!
Name
Suzanna
-
Profession
Question
As a major Muslim figure in Italy, how do you see the latest issue raised about metro seats discrimination between different social and ethnic groups?
Answer
It is very strange what is happening in Italy nowadays. Forty years ago in the Unites States of America, the man who is now seating on the presidential chair had not been able to sit in a bus. What i can see in Italy today is that we are going backwards in what relates to civil rights.
The Northern League is trying to foment the secessionist perception. They do that through approaching uncostitutional requests. Their message to their electors is "See? We are trying to do what you want but the government is preventing us".
Name
Omaima
- Syria
Profession
Question
Dear Broth. Piccardo,
I'm really glad you are a guest here in IOL.
I also want to pay my apologies for such discriminatory act.
Tell us please about the MUSLIMS' reaction in Italy, or in any other country, towards what happened to brother Gabriele
Answer
Gabriele received a lot of solidarity from brothers and sisters from all the world, thanks to the facebook and the electronic news. But in Italy, there is no mass reaction because Muslims didn't hear about it from Arab main-stream medias.
Name
EU citizen
-
Profession
Question
I think that any candidate in any government would have faced the same rejection.
Consequently, a good candidate should have a kind of PLAN B.
What are the practical steps you have on your agenda?
Answer
This a question has to be done to my son. I personally have no Plan B. I am only interested in denouncing the discrimination of a Muslim candidate.
Name
Hesham
- United Kingdom
Profession
Student
Question
Dear Sir,
Do you agree that the Italians in general refuse the integration of the immigrants? and specifically that of Muslims?
Before you answer the question, I want to give a note; I lived in Rome for 8 years, I lived with Italians, I was studying in University of Rome, so I know a lot of Italians from north to south.
I believe that the Italians are victims of their media, they are brain washed regarding Islam.
Now I live in the UK, there is a huge difference between the two countries regarding the integration or the acceptance of the other.
I notice that the Muslim community in Italy are so weak, and even worse, they are not well informed about the religion itself, that's why we always find so many Muslims hosted on TV but they don't know how to answer or defend themselves.
Once they throw out the imam of Rome mosque because he prayed for the Palestinians, while here in the UK there are organisations helping the Palestinians!
what you think of all I said? thank you in advance.
Answer
I do agree with what you say. You are obviously well informed on the situation here. These problems need time to be solved. The Muslim community in Italy is socially childish: it's true that there is a million and half muslims in Italy but most of them are here from ten years approximately. We have a lot of enegineers that work in Pizzas restaurants: there is still a lot to do for economical integration also!
Name
Suoad
-
Profession
Question
Have you contributed in the 7th Palestinian conference held in Milan, what were UCOII contributions for this year?
Answer
I contributed as a Muslim and as an editor. We published a book on the Nakba in order to clarify that Palestine is not "a land without people". For the moment I am only a former representative of UCOII: I resigned my charges recently.
Name
Maged
-
Profession
Question
What are the attitudes of: the parliament, media, Italian community, Muslim community, oppositions?
Answer
The parliament didn't express any opinion on this matter. I asked the President of the Republic and the Parliamentarians to say something but they didn't answer.
Opposition, only on a local level, expressed solidarity with Gabriele. The Italian community is strongly influenced with what the media say: if someone is a Northen League supporter he obviously agrees, if not he doesn't.
Muslim community, as I said before, is still weak. Media forms used this situation to make some big titles, but that's all!
Name
Laila
-
Profession
Question
Dear Sir,
This is Laila again
Actually, i think you didnt answer me fully!!
Again, what are the solutions you prepare to solve such dilemma?
Answer
As I said in another answer, we do need time: when we are going to be a strong community, with engineers who work as engineers and not in Pizza restraunts, we'll find also solutions. Allah is with those who have patience, dear Laila!
Name
EU citizen
-
Profession
Question
If the media did not tell Muslims about what happened in the elections in the country they live in, then this is not the media or the government problem.
It is simply the Muslims'.
Please tell me how they did not hear about that?
Answer
We have issued a statment, we publicized it on social networks, major newspapers here in Italy spoke about it.
But Muslims here follow Arab medias by satellite, not the Italian medias. It's true: this is the Muslims' problem!
As I said before, we are still a socially childish community.
