An Italian news portal has reported comments by a a senior official in an Italian Islamic organization critical of global Muslim Brotherhood leader Tariq Ramadan and supportive of the Italian President’s decision to inaugurate the Turin book fair on Thursday. The event will feature Israel as the guest of honor to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state. According to the report Yahya Pallavicini, vice-president of COREIS representing mainly Italian converts, said:
“I express my complete solidarity with Italy’s president of the republic, Giorgio Napolitano, on behalf of COREIS, and also with the Turin book fair’s director, Ernesto Ferrero,” Italian Islamic religious community vice-president Yahya Pallavicini told Adnkronos International (AKI).Pallavicini’s comments came after a prominent Muslim academic, Tariq Ramadan, criticised Napolitano’s attendance at the opening of the Turin book fair…”I re-emphasise my strong opposition towards and criticism of Tariq Ramadan,” said Pallavicini. “Apart from his dubious opinions, he shows the will to attack institutions that is typical of the Muslim Brotherhood, and to lack a sense of the state or respect for the president of the republic.” Pallavicini will also attend the opening on Thursday of the Turin book fair “as a citizen who does not share the opinions of Ramadan and the stances taken by the Muslim Brotherhood.” “Ramadan, like every other member of the Muslim Brotherhood harbours rancour not only towards Arab regimes, but also towards democratic governments,” said Pallavicini.
Ramadan, who is the grandson of the founder of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, had protested the decision to honor Israel and accused critics of his position as conflating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. Ramadan has in the past been accused of promoting anti-Semitism.