“A letter published by some news agencies urged me not to include myself in what has been defined as the ‘ivory tower of the rectorate’. As I came I saw a sign asking me what I thought about what is happening in Gaza. I don’t want to leave it unanswered. The condition and question of peace in the Middle East, of Israel’s right to exist, is a question that the international community feels with great concern and not just today.” The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella said this on the occasion of the ‘Graduate Day’ at La Sapienza University in Rome. Regarding what is happening in Gaza, the president cited his speech at the UN and said: “I have reiterated the request for an immediate ceasefire.”
“The need to respect humanitarian law is in our constitution – the head of state continued -. It is a duty for the Italian Republic, this applies in all directions. This applies to civilians, to the Palestinian people, it applies to the boys raped and killed while listening to music at a rave last October 7, it applies to the children whose throats were slaughtered on that occasion, it applies to Mahsa Amini and the girls who were imprisoned after her and she was released because they did not wear the headscarf, it applies for girls who cannot study in Afghanistan. For our Republic, all human rights violations must be fought, always.
“For a millennium, universities have been the seat of free debate, of freedom of criticism, sometimes even of dissent from power. Freedom, peace, human rights pass through dialogue and discussion. Power, the worst one, wants the universities of their country are isolated, without relationships or collaboration with the universities of other countries. Because this condition allows the worst of powers to control the university, to compress culture and to impede its cry and its push for freedom.” , stated the President of the Republic.
Students to Mattarella: ‘President, which side are you on?’
“President, which side of the barricade do you want to be on? Theirs or ours?” ask the young people protesting in front of the rector’s office. And they reiterate their invitation to the Head of State: “this is the last call, president, do you want to reach us?”.
Inside the paper airplanes launched upon arrival, the children wrote the letter addressed to President Mattarella which was read again at the microphone on the large lawn in front of the rector’s office and the assembly hall where Graduates’ Day is being held. Meanwhile, the students continue to remain in front of the barriers, speak at the microphone, display a banner towards the entrance to the rectorate and spray water pistols at the police in front of them.
Mattarella leaves Sapienza, students protest against the police
Shouting “away with the police and shame” as the head of state left the university city, the students began to follow the police into the avenues of the university city, singing chants and running after the police vans as they left the avenues. of the university city. At the entrance to Viale Regina Elena the boys met the officers in riot gear; the agents are pushing them back with shields inside the university city.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
