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