"ISLAM SHOULD BECOME THE RELIGION OF EUROPE" "Islam should become the religion of the whole of Europe". The message from Libyan leader Muammar Gheddafi was delivered on Sunday afternoon to almost 500 women, recruited for a lecture on the Koran. The Libyan leader, who arrived in Rome in the morning to celebrate the second anniversary of the signing of the Italian-Libyan friendship treaty, distributed copies of the Koran to 487 women to whom he spoke at two sessions. Forty-seven men were also due to hear him but time proved insufficient. Three women, two Italians and a Spaniard, came wearing headscarves because they have converted to Islam, a decision the president marked with a brief ritual of initiation. The three converts were among the last to leave, and did so together, but without making any statements. All were wearing the traditional Islamic headscarf, although their hair was not completely covered. A few minutes later, another woman emerged wearing a Muslim headscarf, this time a black one. According to other attendees, the last woman did not convert for Gheddafi’s visit, having embraced Islam some time earlier. The women were able to ask questions but politics and other inappropriate topics were not allowed. |
