«The board of directors of the Italo-Arab and Mediterranean Center, meeting in extraordinary session, has decided to sue for aggravated defamation in criminal and civil proceedings the Honorable Ugo Cappellacci of Forza Italia who, in his legitimate inspection activity as a parliamentarian, presented a question for a response to the Minister of the Interior containing false statements that are detrimental to the dignity and all the members of the Italo-Arab Center as well as to the honorability of its president Raimondo Schiavone».

Thus the note, this morning, from the Italo-Arab center.

Cappellaci, in his question to Piantedosi, referred to the event scheduled in Cagliari, at the Manifattura Tabacchi, organized by the Centro Italo Arabo , specifying that during demonstrations of this type «we have frequently witnessed anti-Semitic chants and slogans and the participation, in several cases, of individuals belonging to far-left collectives, anarchists and even former Red Brigade members». Furthermore, «positions have also been expressed that justify and support the brutal crimes committed by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip».

"In no case - the Center's reply - as can be seen from the full recordings of the event that will be sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office and are available to anyone on the web, were anti-Semitic positions expressed but of strong condemnation of the disproportionate reaction of the State of Israel to the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023 which caused, with an impressive series of air raids and military incursions, over 42,000 victims in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, so much so as to be stigmatized by the international community, by the Secretary General of the UN and most recently also by the Italian Episcopal Conference. The presence of the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Cagliari took place within a cultural event in which no one could witness anti-Semitic chants and slogans. This can also be confirmed by the public security and Digos agents who attended every public moment of the event".

"The statements of the Honorable Cappellacci - the note continues - are false and dangerous and contradict the spirit of a demonstration that saw among its protagonists journalists, entrepreneurs, academics, politicians, students, artists and ordinary citizens who in no case were able to listen to anti-Semitic words that contradict the spirit of the Italo-Arab Center which has the right, sanctioned by the Italian Constitution, to criticize the policies of the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for whom the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has requested the arrest for "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity" together with the leaders of the Palestinian organization".

"We understand that the Honorable Cappellacci does not know the meaning of the word anti-Semitism - the attack - and does not have sufficient knowledge of the small glossary of the Middle and Near East and should therefore explain why many victims of the Shoah and many of their descendants today openly criticize Netanyahu, accusing him of conducting a murderous and genocidal policy towards the Palestinian people. The Italo Arab Center is not anti-Semitic, it is not hostile to the Jews, it is not hostile to their culture and their institutions. The Italo Arab Center promotes dialogue between peoples, opposes war, violence and calls for an immediate ceasefire. The Italo Arab Center is against Israel's genocidal policy towards the Palestinian people and calls for respect for UN resolutions in line with international law that Cappellacci himself demonstrates not to know. The Centro Italo Arabo is not a supporter of Hamas whose criticisms, as can be seen from public meetings, articles and books, have been evident since the war in Syria. If anything, Cappellacci should tell us about his relations with the ambassadors and emirs of Qatar, a Persian Gulf monarchy that, as demonstrated by numerous investigations and international intelligence reports, has financed the Palestinian organization Hamas in Gaza».

(Online Union)

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