The prayer announced for today 24 May by Imam Brahim Baya at the Polytechnic of Turin has been cancelled, having already sparked harsh controversy last Friday for the sermon against Israel held at the occupied University of Turin. The rector Stefano Paolo Corgnati intervened against the students’ initiative and asked the prefecture and police headquarters to intervene. «In full coordination with the Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini and having learned of the announcement of the holding of Islamic Friday prayers at the headquarters of the Polytechnic, I immediately proceeded to send a request to the Prefect and the Police Commissioner of Turin of a warning from carrying out functions and activities at the University premises towards any religious authorities involved”. And they are keen to reiterate: «The rector and the minister strongly underline the principles of independence and secularism of university institutions».
Baya: «Warned by the commissioner. Islamophobia in Italy is a problem”
The prayer appointment at the Polytechnic was canceled after the commissioner warned the imam. Baya himself confirms this: «This morning I was summoned by the head of the police station who gave me a warning from the police commissioner to carry out this demonstration, identifying me as the organizer. I wanted to repeat, and this is why I didn’t sign the warning, I was only called to officiate at a prayer, as anyone can be called. The problem is the Islamophobia of this country.”
The imam: “Mine was not a violent speech”
Last Friday’s meeting at the University of Turin, currently occupied by collectives in solidarity with Palestine, had sparked numerous controversies with the University Minister in alarm. During the last prayer meeting, Baya denounced that “the Palestinian people have resisted in the face of this murderous fury, this genocidal fury, emerging from the worst barbarism in history which takes no humanity, no human rights into consideration.” Her speech was particularly criticized because it was accused of inciting violence. But in an interview with Corriere della Sera, was keen to clarify his positions. «When I spoke of “changing an injustice with your hands”, I was referring to positive action to correct injustices and support the oppressed, not to physical violence, which is to be repudiated», declares the imam. «I reiterate my commitment to working for a world in which it is not tolerated that a State, the Israeli one, recognizes self-determination only to a part of its population, the Jewish one, and does not recognize this basic right to the other populations that live there earth for millennia”, he adds. As for the concept of jihad that he mentioned, he is keen to underline that «it is a term often misunderstood and used incorrectly by some Muslims or pseudo-Muslims. In this regard, I invite you to listen to a masterful lesson by Professor Alessandro Barbero on the topic.”
