2012
FROM: Giuseppe Eid
SENT: Saturday, October 13, 2012
SUBJECT: Coptic Exodus
It is completely true and even an understatement of the raw reality seen by those who know Egypt and its villages. I’m sorry to hear about moderate Islam which is “nonsense”. Our Arab priests call the dialogue that has taken place in Egypt since the 1940s a “café concert”. The foundation for true dialogue in Italy begins with daily conviviality, while in Egypt it is necessary to reform all scholastic material and sermons, as well as those who finance them.
- There is a common front of 56 OSI Islamic states where freedom of conscience does not exist, and the community’s right prevails over a person’s dignity. The West should actively take note of this. Fine declarations must be followed by incisive actions in the educational field both in the West and, above all, in the Arab world: ask European politicians to demand the monitoring of educational material in Arab countries so that incitement to violence would make room for mutual respect.
- It is essential to work on education, on textbooks in schools, and on the media, and even to invite the imams who have in their hands the formidable instrument of preaching in mosques to collaborate in this educational line of justice and peace, where it would be appropriate to proclaim also the verses of the Koran that underline God’s will towards religious plurality and the commitment to compete for good in God’s Mercy.
- I recall a statement by Baronessa Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the EU: “We must not fall into the trap that extremists and terrorists are setting for us”, “We must resist those who would like to make religion a cause for division. The best response to extremism is to create a united international front based on universal standards of freedom of belief and religion.” “The European Union will not look away.”
- How do we move from theory to practice? By awakening of our consciences and showing dignity.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator