The Italian Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, visiting the Italian pavilion at the Tunis International Book Fair (FILT), of which his country is guest of honor, probably did not expect a welcome also noise from his Tunisian hosts.
Pro-Palestine demonstrators indeed arrived yesterday afternoon, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in front of the Italian pavilion at the FILT, and chanted slogans hostile to the genocidal war that Israel has been waging since October 7 against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, at a time when the Italian official was finishing his speech at a literary meeting.
The demonstrators denounced the Israeli occupation and its brutal aggression against the Palestinians. They condemned what they called “Italy’s support for the crimes of the Israeli occupation” in the besieged strip.
Security agents protected the Italian minister and the delegation accompanying him until they left the Kram Exhibition Center where the Filt was held. No incident was noted, the demonstrators had simply expressed their rejection of the pro-Israeli position expressed by Italy in this conflict, an Italy today governed by the xenophobic extreme right and which is increasing appeals towards the countries of the southern Mediterranean while refraining from firmly denouncing the genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinians.
After the departure of the demonstrators, activities continued normally at the Italian pavilion which notably housed a presentation of Ahmed Somai’s latest book, an Arabic translation of ”Vico Dei Miracoli” by Marcello Veneziani. The meeting was held without the presence of the Italian author.
Pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated at the Italian pavilion before heading towards that of the French Institute of Tunisia (IFT) where they also chanted slogans against France’s support for the Israeli war against Gaza, notably by the sending of weapons.
