Religion
Italy: 'Paedophile' prophet remarks rile Muslims
Rome, 9 Nov. (AKI) - One of Italy's largest Muslim organisations on Monday condemned the feminist and former rightwing MP Daniela Santanche for calling the Prophet Mohammed a paedophile and polygamist on television at the weekend. "If there is a basis to make a formal complaint, we will do so because we need to say enough is enough with this kind of vulgarity targeting Islam's prophet," said a spokesman for the Muslim group UCOII, Elzir Izidin.
"It is incitement to hatred and is unacceptable. We are looking into what we can do," Izidin added.
Santanche made the inflammatory remarks during a heated debate on Sunday with the president of Milan's Islamic centre, Ali Abu Schwaima, on the placing of the crucifix in Italian classrooms.
"Mohammed was a polygamist and a paedophile because he had nine wives, one of whom was only nine years old, that is a historical fact," said Santanche.
Santache was referring to Aisha, the Prophet Mohammed's third wife who was believed to be nine-years-old at the time of her marriage to Mohammed.
Her remarks made on the commercial channel Canale 5, incensed Schwaima and other Muslims in the audience.
The president of Italy's association of Muslim intellectuals, Ahmad Gianpiero, also deplored Santanche's comments.
"The accusations made yesterday against the Prophet Mohammed are unacceptable and will only stoke similar reactions and hostility from the Muslim community," he said.
"Now more than ever before, we need to isolate those who seek to provoke. Instead, we need to rebuild a climate of dialogue between different religions and cultures," said Gianpiero.
Child marriages such as Aisha's were relatively common in Bedouin societies at the time of the prophet and remain so in countries such as Yemen and Saudi Arabia among others.
"It is incitement to hatred and is unacceptable. We are looking into what we can do," Izidin added.
Santanche made the inflammatory remarks during a heated debate on Sunday with the president of Milan's Islamic centre, Ali Abu Schwaima, on the placing of the crucifix in Italian classrooms.
"Mohammed was a polygamist and a paedophile because he had nine wives, one of whom was only nine years old, that is a historical fact," said Santanche.
Santache was referring to Aisha, the Prophet Mohammed's third wife who was believed to be nine-years-old at the time of her marriage to Mohammed.
Her remarks made on the commercial channel Canale 5, incensed Schwaima and other Muslims in the audience.
The president of Italy's association of Muslim intellectuals, Ahmad Gianpiero, also deplored Santanche's comments.
"The accusations made yesterday against the Prophet Mohammed are unacceptable and will only stoke similar reactions and hostility from the Muslim community," he said.
"Now more than ever before, we need to isolate those who seek to provoke. Instead, we need to rebuild a climate of dialogue between different religions and cultures," said Gianpiero.
Child marriages such as Aisha's were relatively common in Bedouin societies at the time of the prophet and remain so in countries such as Yemen and Saudi Arabia among others.
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