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Egypt Awaiting "Urgent Clarification" on Berlusconi's Remarks on Islam
A senior Egyptian official said Friday that Egypt is waiting for an "urgent explanation" from the Italian government for its Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's " weird" remarks on Islam.
The official also expressed regret over the remarks of Berlusconi, who said on Wednesday in Berlin that the Western civilization is superior to Islam , the state-run MENA news agency reported.
"What is really strange is that the Italian premier has expressed in his statements hope that the West would defeat Islam and its civilization," the official was quoted as saying.
"Berlusconi's statements are conflicting with what he himself and Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi had mentioned during their recent meetings with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak," the official said.
"These statements totally reveal incomplete knowledge of the tolerant teachings of Islam that call for peaceful coexistence amongst all peoples, irrespective of their creeds," the official said.
Berlusconi said on Wednesday that Islam is a religion that does not respect human rights, pluralism, tolerance and freedom of religion, adding that the Western civilization is superior to Islam.
His remarks aroused a wave of anger not only among the Muslim world but also among Western nations. As a response, the Cairo- based Arab League has demanded an apology from the Italian government for the "racist" remarks.
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