Reaction: Muslim children in Italy were exempted from studying Dante

Politicians on both the left and right have criticized the exclusion, saying that Dante is a pillar of Italian literature. Photo: HULTON ARCHIVE

An An Italian school's decision to exempt Muslim children from studying Dante because the medieval poet placed Muhammad in hell in The Divine Comedy has sparked a backlash and debate over cancel culture.

Politicians like Both the left and the right said that Dante was a pillar of Italian literature and that it was unacceptable to exclude children from studying his works because of their faith.

The quarrel erupted after high school. in Treviso in the north of the country, two Muslim children aged about 14 were reportedly allowed to skip classes on the Divine Comedy.

This allegorical poem, written in the early 14th century, tells the story of a man's journey to hell, purgatory and heaven with the help of two guides, Virgil and Beatrice.

Dante's epic places the Prophet Muhammad and his cousin Ali in hell , where they are tortured by demons with swords.

“How crippled Muhammad is! A crying Ali walks in front of me, his face split from chin to forelock,” Dante wrote.

This release was criticized by MPs across the political spectrum.

“A shameful case of cultural cancelation”

Simone Malpezzi, a senator from the centre-left opposition Democratic Party, said it was “deeply wrong” to deprive pupils of the opportunity to acquire “the profound knowledge of Italian culture that the study of Dante provides”. Knowledge of Dante does not deprive children of anything of their religious faith and significantly expands their knowledge of Italian culture.»

Federico Mollicone, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, said: “This is just the latest shameful case of cancel culture. Such exclusion not only undermines our national identity, but also deprives new generations of formative scientific education.»

Carlo Paschetto, a member of the center-left Azione party, said it was «madness» to view Dante as offensive to Muslims.< /p>

“Dante is the father of humanism, of Italy, of Europe. The decision not to teach it in the name of the false concept of tolerance will create huge problems of integration in society. This is not tolerance or integration, this is the suicide of the West, which, instead of glorifying pluralism, abolishes its own identity.” Dante should be taught to all children in Italy, he said, «regardless of the color of their skin or the religion of their parents.»

«True integration should not be about absolving Muslim children of responsibility when you talk about Mohammed, but we need to involve them so that they can explain their own culture and their points of view on the narrative.»

Matteo Salvini, deputy prime minister and head of the Right League party, said on the social media platform X called the release «shameful and unacceptable.”

“Those who do not want to adapt to our culture, traditions and values ​​can safely return to where they came from. Dante is the father of the Italian language and a genius who defends our country on the world stage,” he wrote.

Mario Conte, the mayor of Treviso, also criticized the school’s decision. “I would rather kids watch less TikTok and social media than Dante. Less mobile phones, more divine comedy.”