Arabs demand Italy's apology on racist remarks<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse
\nCairo<\/p>\n
CAIRO (AFP): The Arabs demand an apology from the Italian
\ngovernment after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi made \"racist\"
\nremarks about Western civilization being superior to Islam, the
\nArab League chief said Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"I consider his remark as racist and by such a remark, he has
\ncrossed the limits of reasons and decency,\" Amr Mussa said,
\nexpressing \"indignation\" at what Berlusconi had said.<\/p>\n
\"We don't believe that there is a superior civilization and if
\nhe is thinking so, he is utterly mistaken and I believe he would
\nhave to teach himself, to read, to learn about the Muslim
\ncivilization,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Otherwise, he will put himself and Italy in a very
\nembarrassing position vis a vis all of us in the Mediterranean,
\nin the Arab world and in the Muslim world,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mussa, who met delegates of the European Union troika led by
\nBelgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel on a Middle East tour, said
\nthe Arabs demanded an apology from the Italian government.<\/p>\n
Michel agreed in the joint press conference that Berlusconi's
\nremarks were \"not acceptable.\"<\/p>\n
The Muslim world rounded with fury on Italian Prime Minister
\nSilvio Berlusconi on Thursday, denouncing his claim that Western
\ncivilization was superior to that of Islam as racist,
\ninflammatory and uneducated.<\/p>\n
\"When Berlusconi, who's a statesman, pronounces such words it
\nmeans he wants to prepare public opinion for a clash of
\ncivilizations, a clash between the West and Islam,\" said Mustapha
\nRamid, a member of parliament in Morocco and spokesman for the
\nIslamist Justice and Development Party (PJD).<\/p>\n
In NATO-member Turkey, one of the United States' closest
\nMuslim allies, mainstream daily Hurriyet described Berlusconi's
\ncomments as \"an incredible gaffe\".<\/p>\n
Islamist newspaper Akit, traditionally anti-Western in its
\noutlook, said Berlusconi was \"a new Mussolini\".<\/p>\n
\"The savage and fascist face of U.S. and European countries is
\nbeginning to emerge after the attacks,\" it said.<\/p>\n
The hardline English-language Iranian daily Kayhan
\nInternational said in an editorial that European history did not
\nsupport Berlusconi's claims.<\/p>\n
\"Notwithstanding the free indulgence of the Western countries
\nin the slave trade in the past and in present-day criminal and
\nimmoral activities such as pederasty, trafficking in children and
\nwomen...two world wars were fought in the 'civilized' continent
\nof Europe,\" it wrote.<\/p>\n
Contrasting the West's values with Islam since the Sept. 11
\nattacks on the United States has proved highly controversial.<\/p>\n
Bush sparked criticism by calling his fight against terrorism
\na \"crusade\" -- a term that recalls the medieval clash between
\nChristianity and Islam.<\/p>\n
Many Muslims appeared incredulous over the comments.<\/p>\n
\"If he has made such a statement, then it is an attack on
\nIslam and it may lead to a disastrous confrontation between
\nMuslims and non-Muslims,\" said Khalid al-Kuwari, a government
\nemployee in Qatar.<\/p>\n
In Saudi Arabia, birthplace of Islam, there was outrage.<\/p>\n
\"It's not fair and it makes me very angry. No real Muslim man
\ncould have flown those hijacked planes because a lot of people
\ndied and his (any real Muslim's) values are against that sort of
\nthing,\" said Saudi air force pilot Majid al-Subaie.<\/p>\n
However, Khaled al-Humaid, a resident of Jeddah, played down
\nBerlusconi's remarks.<\/p>\n
\"He has the right to say what he wants. I don't expect non-
\nMuslims to love Muslims and after this (attack). I don't think we
\nhave the right to tell others to love us.\"<\/p>\n
Berlusconi said Wednesday that Western civilization was
\n\"superior to Islam\", according to Italian journalists covering
\nhis visit to Berlin.<\/p>\n
The Italian prime minister had been speaking to a group of
\nspecial correspondents from Italy, shortly before giving a joint
\npress conference with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.<\/p>\n
They said he used the phrase: \"Our civilisation is superior to
\nIslam.\"<\/p>",
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