ISLAM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

10 THE RED WIRE THAT SLIDES ALONG MY PUBLICATIONS The increased availability of the means of transport and communications has facili- tated the emigration to Europe of young Arabs from countries governed by laws that favor Muslim citizens over members of other religious beliefs. This state of af- fairs has been the cause of misunderstan- ding among young people who come to Europe where equality of rights prevails and non-discrimination among citizens. At this moment Islam holds the whole world with its suspended soul, for its rela- tions with the West and the Christian wor- ld, because one can really speak of two different worlds, which meet, collide and merge. The phenomenon of emigration from Muslim countries to European coun- tries has been increasingly accentuated in recent times. It has generated problems of coexistence between different cultures, ways of life and customs. The widespread poverty, illiteracy, population growth and wars, push a large number of young peo- ple towards Europe and Italy in particular. It should not be overlooked that they are mostly Muslims bringing with them a set of traditions and practices which, besides being very different from ours, constitute a sort of prism through which they see and judge European societies. In Italy these immigrants live in a condi- tion of inferiority both on the socio-econo- mic level and on that of communication. For this reason they tend to live in small cultural ghettos characterized by their respective countries of origin, langua- ge, tribal customs and religion. Among the Muslim immigrants the religious brotherhood influence is very much pre- sent with its mosques, cultural centers and call for prayers, and is becoming an increasingly present reality. The mana- gement of the process of evolutionary change cannot be left to the improvisation of individuals motivated by the search of economic return. Myself, Egyptian by birth, from parents of distant Syrian-Lebanese origin, Catholic, particularly attentive to the problems of the Arab world, I am willing to promote a campaign of mutual understanding in all areas to create the premises for an inclu- sive welcome and peace among people living together. Founding member of the Ambrosian Cen- ter of Dialogue for Religions in Milan un- der the auspice of Cardinal Martini and of the Europe Near East Center, I found in the West a favorable ground for the possi- bility of starting to fill the gap that divides men of different faith but who believe in the same God , the only Allah, father of all men. I, myself, Italian by adoption, having arrived in Milan, I found tolerance and non-discrimination. After demonstrating my interest in explo- ring the culture of the host country and wanting to integrate myself with its cu- stoms and traditions, I found equality of treatment. Equality, unlike tolerance, is the positive meaning of the reception recei- ved in Milan and in Italy in a broad sense. This convinced me to put my experience of international life to bring the peoples of History and current affairs: The objective is to question the responsibility of the institutions but above all to raise awareness among young people.