Italy: MP in court to defend herself against death 'fatwa'

Bologna, 18 June (AKI) - An Italian MP and Muslim women's rights activist was due to give evidence to a court on Thursday over death threats allegedly made against her in a 'fatwa' or religious edict. Souad Sbai, MP for the ruling conservative People of Freedom party, was due to attend the court in the northern Italian city of Bologna as witness.

"I am today in Bologna to defend myself against a death 'fatwa' issued against me, for which I had to live in fear for quite some time," said Sbai in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

Akrane H., is accused of having issued the death threat in 2007 and accused Sbai of taking advantage of immigrants for personal gain."I call on God to act against you, in a way that he will expose you.

You are a very bad woman, begin to pray to God, leave work for men. "I have heard very bad things about you and you have thus been exposed as a 'massihia' (Christian)," Akrane wrote in a letter to Sbai.

The claim by Akrane is an accusation of apostasy, which under Islamic law calls for the death penalty, which can be carried out by any Muslim at any time.

"You are an opportunist. You use immigrants for profit-making. You Souad, are nothing and you have nothing to do with Islam and have no knowledge of fikh (religious jurisprudence)," the letter stated.

"You have your hair uncovered in the sight of God, and a woman who does not cover her head must be hanged by the hair. God will punish you for the evil you do to people," the letter continued.

Sbai, who is also president of the Moroccan Women's Association in Italy, said she hopes the judge will understand the severity of the death threat.

"Today's hearing could be the last hearing of the trial and I hope the judge understands the danger of this 'fatwa' and the seriousness of this issue," she told AKI.

Sbai said she was worried that Bologna's DIGOS or anti-terrorism police had no information about who she was, or her work in favour of abused Muslim women.

DIGOS also considered Akrane H. nothing more than an anarchist or an extreme-left political activist.

"This is not correct, because they are underestimating the 'Islamic value' of his words," she concluded.

I am surprised she is not dead yet.