ISLAM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

252 AFGHAN WOMEN, KABUL Mrs Isabella Bossi Fedrigottì From : Giuseppe Samir Eid Your denunciation in the Corriere di Do- menica 13 is acute and it comes sponta- neously 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 re- cent 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 di- scrimination in the name of religion, etc. No campaign has denounced these situa- tions and the ones who did were imme- diately silenced. No campaign has denounced these situa- tions unless they are immediately silen- ced. Why? Kabul is not very far away: in fact it is only 6000 km from Milan; a small Kabul is alre- ady inside our city. Medieval customs and traditions imported from the Middle East are introduced by certain cultural and reli- gious 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 mo- ment 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 denoun- ce 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 presen- ting 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 cumberso- me 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 men- tioned: Lebanon, Sudan, Bosnia, Ko- sovo, 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 mas- sacres 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?