Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi makes a speech in response to the September 11 attacks in which he states: “we must be aware of the superiority of [Western] civilization, a system that has guaranteed well-being, respect for human rights and - in contrast with Islamic countries - respect for religious and political rights.”
The declaration causes an uproar not only among Arab-Italians, but among Muslims around the world.
In response, Berlusconi remarks that he has “many Muslim friends.”