Mrs Isabella Bossi Fedrigottì
From : Giuseppe Samir Eid
Your denunciation in the Corriere di Domenica 13 is acute and it comes spontaneously to wonder why the great medias silence everything that concerns certain aspects of the Middle-Eastern world. Just to mention a few cases: the events of recent years Lebanon, intifada, Gulf War. The press has highlighted biased news; there have been cases of children being snatched from their mothers under the pretext that they refuse to convert to the religion of their Muslim husband, daily discrimination in the name of religion, etc.No campaign has denounced these situations and the ones who did were immediately silenced.
No campaign has denounced these situations unless they are immediately silenced. Why?
Kabul is not very far away: in fact it is only 6000 km from Milan; a small Kabul is already inside our city. Medieval customs and traditions imported from the Middle East are introduced by certain cultural and religious centres. The ignorance and perhaps the excess of guarantee of our politicians make them accepted under the pretext of religious freedom. I cannot say whether the discriminations present at the moment in the Centres in question in Milan can be labelled legal or not.
However, see for yourself; when you want to plan your visit for some cultural or religious event organised by the religious centres in question, you can personally visit Kabul & Milano and perhaps denounce it. But is it necessary”? Or you can try different ways to help new immigrants to fit in and not let themselves be harnessed by those who present themselves as their representatives. The book I am presenting to you is a small attempt by me in this direction.
Best regards. Joseph Samir Eid
Date: 8 September 1999
to : Mr Antonio Socci
From : G. Eid
OBJECT: But who defends Christians?
Little publicity was given to the decision taken in 1974 at the pan-Islamic congress in Lahore: to plan the elimination of the Christian presence considered cumbersome in countries with a Muslim majority, with the consent of western countries.
Is it just a project on paper or is this project being implemented? (Arab Christians and Arab Muslims together towards the 21st century pg.87 ediz.NED). Then began the wars you mentioned: Lebanon, Sudan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Copts in Egypt, Pakistan, Timor, etc.. The Italian press has always, but always, kept silent when the attackers are Muslims! Indeed, there is a work of disinformation. I don’t remember massacres against Muslims in this century. Oil or water? I don’t think that’s the only excuse. We are spectators of events that happen in the world but we escape the information. What are the motives and interests behind these events that cause suffering and death? Giuseppe Samir EID
Date: 10 June 2000
To: Mons. Gianfranco Ravasi
FROM : Giuseppe Samir Eid
OBJECT: Milan and Islam
I see your scheduled presence at the conference Milan and Islam at the Stelline.
In this regard, I take the liberty to offer you some ideas on Islamic issues.
Religious faith:
It is praiseworthy that the Islamic centres in Milan can increase the religious faith of the faithful; on the contrary, it is criticizable when the centre proposes to apply to our society, customs and dictates of foreign origin in the name of Islam. The question then arises: of which Islam? The one practiced in Cairo, Beirut, & Tunis, or in Mecca, Karachi or in the desert of the seventh century?
Human rights:
What rights will be discussed? In my opinion, facing the truth is an undeniable value. It would be useful for everyone, Christians and Muslims, to take the opportunity to ask to define the content of the title, and to highlight what are the substantial differences that exist between Italian law and that of the countries of Islam. It is well known that Sharia law applied in interpersonal relations discriminates against non-Muslims, and in the case of mixed marriages, against Christian women and their offspring.
In order to prevent such problems in the city of Milan, it is advisable to stipulate bilateral agreements that recognize exclusively as the competent court, the law of the State where the marriage is celebrated. I remain at your disposal for any clarification and extend my best regards.
Giuseppe Samir Eid
Free web translation from the original in Italian
The published articles intend to provide the tools for a social inclusion of the migratory flow, shed light on human rights and the condition of life of Christians in the Islamic world from which the author come from. Knowledge of the other, of cultural and religious differences are primary ingredients to create peace in the hearts of men everywhere, a prerequisite for a peaceful coexistence and convinced citizenship in the territory.