A plastic pig in a shop window sparks controversy in Padua. The Islamic community calls for his removal, the center-right responds harshly
In Padua, a pink plastic pig has become the involuntary symbol of the clash between religious sensitivities and commercial freedom. The venue «Mortadella and more»recently opened in Piazza dei Signori, has chosen a large pig displayed in the shop window as its mascot. For some it is a nice reference to pop art, for others an unacceptable provocation in the high society of the city.
The fierce protest of the Islamic community
The Islamic community has asked the Municipality for its immediate removal. “The presence of the pig is in bad taste and risks irritating and upsetting Muslims who pass by,” the doctor declared. Salim El Mauoedregional vice-president of the Islamic Community. «I have already consulted with the other leaders of the community that lives and works throughout the Padua area. We invite the owners of the new place where you can buy the large rosettes with mortadella with a whole series of variations to remove the pink plastic pig from the window. Furthermore, it doesn’t even have a good scenographic effect. I understand the need to advertise an open venue, but why choose marketing that offends the religious beliefs of so many people who live in the city?”.
There are as many as twenty thousand practicing Muslims between Padua and the province, many of whom regularly frequent the center with their families. El Mauoed announced that he will contact the mayor Sergio Giordani and the trade councilor Antonio Bressa to take action, also underlining the proximity of the shop to the church of San Clemente.
The harsh response from the centre-right
The response came sharply from the center-right. Paolo Borchia from the Alloy he commented: «Welcoming cannot transform into cultural submission». Elisabetta Gardini Of Brothers of Italy was even harsher: «This is not coexistence, it is censorship. Our history, our gastronomic culture and freedom of enterprise cannot be questioned by those who pretend not to see what they do not agree with. Respect is mutual: no one forces us to enter, no one has the right to erase what we are. Today a plastic pig, tomorrow what else?
Also the advisor of Forza Italia Enrico Turrin carried out an inspection, defining El Mauoed’s words as “a dangerous hyperbole that exposes the business to vandals”. The thesis is that respect must be mutual: no one forces you to enter the shop, no one has the right to erase the symbols of Italian gastronomic tradition.
The border between respect and censorship
The Padua affair reopens a never-ending debate on the boundary between cultural sensitivities and commercial freedom. On the one hand there are those who argue that in a multicultural society it is necessary to avoid symbols that can harm communities present in the area. On the other hand, those who believe that mortadella, a typical Italian product, has the right to be represented without self-censorship in their country.
The pink pig remains in the window, for now. But the controversy is destined to last, dividing a city between those who see the request as excessively sensitive and those who consider it a legitimate appeal for mutual respect.
