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| Europe |
| Italy: Interior Minister to present 'charter of values' to Muslims |
| 2007-10-24 |
| Rome, 24 Oct. (AKI) – Italy's interior minister Giuliano Amato will visit Rome's mosque on Friday to present to Muslims a 'Charter of Values for Citizenship and Integration'. “It is the first public presentation of this important document," the director of Italy's Islamic Cultural Centre, Abdullah Redouane, said in a statement. "Developed in consultation with various religious and civil society representatives, it establishes the principles for the harmonious integration in Italian society of non-Catholic communities." Amato, Redouane, and the Rome mosque's imam Alaa Din al-Goobashi will be among those attending Friday's presentation of the charter. The document, which has symbolic rather than legal value, is aimed at immigrants belonging to Muslim and other faiths. The government plans to distribute it in immigrants' centres, schools, and places of worship in Italy. Italian authorities are also considering making the charter available in Italian embassies and consulates abroad, as well as in Italian offices that issue immigrants with permits of stay, residency and visas. The charter was prepared by an interior ministry committee of experts following consultations with members of the Muslim, Protestant, Romanian and Russian Orthodox communities in Italy, the ItalianBishops Conference (CEI), immigrant groups and charities that assist immigrants. The idea of a charter outlining common values to be subscribed by Muslims was first launched by Amato in August 2006. It came after Italy's largest Muslim group, the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (UCOII) published an advertisement in several newspapers likening Israel's actions in the July War against Lebanon and in the Palestinian territories to Nazi atrocities during World War II. At the suggestion of Muslim groups, the charter's scope was subsequently broadened to include other immigrant communities in Italy. Interesting. Has anyone seen an English-language copy of this charter? |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #6 It’s great that such documents are emerging in this period of hostilities between Islamic and Western societies. A couple points: This is the second document I've seen addressed to the greater ummah which uses the phrase “men and women have equal dignity”. This seems an awkward choice of words, an extravagant avoidance of saying “men and women have equal rights”. If “equal rights” seems too much to accord to half the population in this the beginning of the 21st century, how about “equal autonomy”? Surely we are talking about more than dignity here? “Marriage is based on equal rights and responsibilities of husband and wife and it is, therefore, monogamic. Monogamy unites the lives of two persons thus making them both responsible for what they realize together, starting from the bringing up of their children. Italy forbids polygamy.” That’s a good start. |
| Posted by: Jules 2007-10-24 22:40 |
| #5 Is that a check box on the birth certificate? |
| Posted by: mrp 2007-10-24 18:21 |
| #4 I'll bet the Muzzies especially like the part where you can declare your new baby "male", "female" or "homosexual" at birth. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-10-24 16:00 |
| #3 Below is a "compressed" link to BR's PDF post: Link Fascinating document - let the seething begin! |
| Posted by: mrp 2007-10-24 13:54 |
| #2 Thanks, BrerRabbit! |
| Posted by: mrp 2007-10-24 13:43 |
| #1 http://www.interno.it/mininterno/export/sites/default/it/assets/files/14/0919_charter_of_values_of_citizenship_and_integration.pdf |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2007-10-24 13:30 |