Beach Nun Post, Iman’s Account Canceled

Florence’s moderate iman, Izzedin Elizir, known for his work with representatives of other religions to foster unity, posted a photo on Catholic nuns in habits at the seashore — with no comment — on his Facebook page only to see his account go offline.  For reactivation, it was requested he send in a copy of his documents.  Prior to its disappearance, the post has been shared by 2,000 people.

Elizir was surprised.  The post, a reference to the recent controversy following an edict by the mayor of Cannes in France to ban Muslim women wearing burkinis (a bathing suit with a hood covering the entire body except for the feet, hands and face), “was an attempt to create a dialogue on the subject and to show that viewpoints on the subject were not so far apart.  I’m sorry that French politicians do no spend more of their time on economic and social problems rather than worrying about how Muslims dress at the beach,” he commented.  To read more in Italian, and to see a photo gallery, visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site.