KARACHI: Iconic Pearl Continental’s Grand Ballroom was the venue where Karachiites and expatriates (irrespective of cast, religion or culture) converged on the evening of 16th Ramazan.
Here all were welcomed to (the 3rd) Iftar/Dinner (hosted since 2022) by the young dynamic Consul General of Italy Danilo Giurdanella, who has been spearheading the Italian diplomatic mission in the Port City for the last three years.
Speaking on the occasion, Consul General Danilo Giurdanella said that during his three years here he had many opportunities to witness that, “Pakistan is a true land of hospitality and tolerance”. He said that the holy month of Ramazan was the right time to experience the real Pakistan, to witness how people share and care for others.
Harboring on the subject of terrorism, wars and conflicts in different regions of the world, Danilo Giurdanella spoke about the passage of resolution by UNSC demanding ceasefire in Gaza during Ramazan. He told that Italy had been sending humanitarian aid to Gaza since last November like Pakistan.
Consul General Danilo Giurdanella pointed out that presently some 300,000 Pakistanis living in Italy were celebrating Ramazan: “That is a community of honest and hardworking people. And I am proud to say that they present good image of Pakistan and Islam in the Republic of Italy.
“In fact we have to strive to fight Islamophobia or hatred against any kind of religion or ethnic group in Europe too. I am a strong proponent of inter-religious harmony and my perspective is that all religions preach the same humanistic and moral values to mankind. We are more similar to one another than we may think.”
Danilo Giurdanella held that it was only by means of dialogue that the misconception about Islam could be better understood in the current world. Wishing happiness to all, the Italian diplomat noted this Ramazan also coincided with Nowruz, Holi and Easter: “By promoting peace and tolerance let’s make this world a better place!”
2023:
Last Ramazan (2023), while talking to NPTV on the occasion of Iftar Dinner, Consul General Danilo Giurdanella stated:
“It was a great experience to fast during the holy month of Ramazan.”
Italian diplomat mused that fasting was a mélange of physical as well as spiritual struggle:
“The physical difficulties that come about from the sacrifices of abstinence from food, drink, and other enjoyments of life enable the soul to attain spiritual enhancement.
“Ramazan is a clear reflection of this very concept. It entails sacrifice; sacrifice of the mind, body and soul and advocates for good mannerism, humility, and generosity.
“Pointing towards Islamophobia the Italian diplomat held that Islam needed to be better known to the world in order to fight misconceptions”.
While quoting a verse (49:13) from the Holy Quran, Consul General Danilo Giurdanella maintained that Islam was a religion of peace that also appreciates diversity.
The Consul General held that: “The way forward to make this world tolerant is to engage in dialogue to promote interfaith harmony and religious freedom.
“Only through dialogue, I believe that, the misconceptions about Islam can be avoided and (it could) be better understood in the world.
CG prayed that: “This Ramazan (which meaningfully coincides with Easter period) brings health and happiness to everyone, regardless of religion or belief, as we all live on this planet with the same fears and hopes”.
All world leaders should fast to realize how a hungry person feels: Danilo Giurdanella
“I wanted to share with you my experience of fasting during the holy month of Ramazan.
“First of all, as you know the first days are most difficult for fasting and at the end of the days you are very hungry.
“You feel hunger in your stomach.
“I remember the first day when I was waiting for Iftar, to break my fast and to be able to get some water and get some food… I was feeling hunger in my belly.
“I have to be honest, I am 42-year-old, I never fest it before. I never felt hunger before.
“It was for the first time in my life I felt how a hungry person feels.
“And I think this is something that everybody has to experience.
“Because then you understand a lot about poverty; you understand a lot about social problems.
“Especially all the leaders of the world should feel and experience this.
“So that they understand that we don’t live in a good society as log as there is one person in that state that goes to bed hungry.”
Ramazan teaches self-control: Danilo Giurdanella
“This is the second aspect that Ramazan taught me: Abstinence and also self -control.
“Because I can eat, I can drink but I don’t want to do it. So, it teaches you how just to stop doing things, to control yourself.
“And at the end of the day you also think, OK, perhaps I don’t need that much food, perhaps, I don’t need to consume that much resources.
“I think this is very important teaching, especially for the western world that has become materialistic from certain point of view.
“And so many people today are consuming so many resources while another part of the world is going home hungry or without the same goods.
“This is very important teaching that perhaps we don’t need so many things, perhaps those resources are better invested in another way.”
Danilo Giurdanella on promotion of inter-faith harmony:
“Promotion of interfaith harmony is one of our policy objectives.
“That is something I try to do as much as possibe both in Europe and here in Pakistan.
“It is important that we get to know each other because there are a lot of misconceptions, there is a lot of ignorance also in the western world there is a lot of ignorance about Islam, about what rally Islam is.
“So, there are some misguided people, solution to this problem is to get to know each other; to better teach people about Islam.”
Danilo Giurdanella on discovering common humanity
“Well, there are many ways to do this. First of all, I think education and social outreach are the most important things.
“The third is to bring people together. This is why I organize such events for instance in Karachi when we get to know each other and discover our common humanity.”
Italy is one of the best countries for inter-faith relations: Danilo Giurdanella
“I don’t want to blow my own trumpet, but I think Italy is considered as one of the best countries for interfaith relations.
“We have freedom of religion in Italy according to the article 19 of the Italian Constitution.
“So, you are free to practice your belief. And the state basically agrees with the association with a different religious community.
“They do some agreements and on the basis of these the relations between religion and state are conducted.
“So, this is a different constitutional and social model as compared to other European States.
“And I think it has been quite successfully in preserving peace among the communities.
“So, from this point of view, I think social integration has been very much successful in Italy.
“Although there are many challenges to overcome, especially the economic challenges because as we are a country that has very long coastline.
“As you know in Italy three is a problem of illegal immigration so we have so many illegal immigrants coming to Italy so it is not easy for the government to cope with such a big number.“
2022:
On the occasion of Iftar/Dinner during Ramazan of 2022 the Consul General of Italy Danilo Giurdanella stated: “Some of you may not be aware of it, but the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a long tradition of holding every year during the holy month of Ramazan an iftar in Rome with the participation of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs in the beautiful site of Villa Madama, a Renaissance-style villa planned by the famous Raphael. This is done to promote inter-faith harmony and also to make known to a European public the meaning of the month of Ramadan for Muslims.
“In fact, one of my previous jobs in Rome at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs included promotion of inter-religious harmony. This is only possible if we fight all prejudices, racism, Islamophobia existing in societies and generally educate people on the real meaning of religions. I hope, this Iftar can become a tradition of the Consulate of Italy and, as it happens in Rome, a yearly event and an opportunity to bring people closer together.
“Ramazan is the Islamic month devoted to fasting, prayer, reflection and charity, the observance of which is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Therefore, it is only just that we should celebrate and say a prayer for somebody that has dedicated her own life to her community, one of the best-known philanthropists in Pakistan, also known to the public in Italy, somebody who has helped save the lives of thousands of babies and whose soul has recently departed this world. I’m talking about Madame Bilquis Bano Edhi.
“I make it public here for the first time that Madame Edhi was proposed by myself and subsequently awarded the second rank of the second highest civilian honor of Italy by the President of the Italian Republic – Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy. Unfortunately, due to her passing away, I was unable to officially give her the award during the traditional ceremony of Italian Republic Day on the second of June. But I am sure that it will rest well with her family that is rightly continuing the philanthropic work of the Edhi foundation, which I am promoting for more cooperation with Italy, including other Italian NGOs.”
Danilo Giurdanella, still paying homage to Bilquis Edhi, told that the Edhi Foundation had extended a donation for the victims in Italy greatly affected by the first wave of the COVID pandemic: “Italy will always remember Edhi Foundation for its compassion and generosity and looks forward to greater cooperation in the field of humanitarian services”.
Newspakistan.tv
