Brescia Mayor Laura Castelletti has
revoked the invitation to recently freed Egyptian Bologna
University graduate and human rights activist Patrick Zaki to
open a local festival in November after he called Israeli
President Benjamin Netanyahu a serial killer for his allegedly
genocidal policies towards the Palestinians while condemning
Hamas's attack on Israel, Il Giornale di Brescia reported
Friday.
Castelletti reportedly took the decision on grounds Zaki, who
was recently freed from detention in Egypt on subversion
charges, is "divisive".
"His words on Israel do not represent the message that the city
wants to convey," said the mayor, who had been criticised by the
centre-right for not wanting to illuminate the seat of the
municipal administration with the colours of Israel.
Earlier this week Zaki saw his engagements cancelled on the
opening broadcast of a leading talkshow on Sunday and at the
Arsenale della pace in Turin.
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