Alex Taylor euronews:

What is happening with the Arab Spring? Those of you who followed with joy as the events unfolded on Facebook in Tunisia who clicked ‘like’ on comments over election results and who left comments delighting in the fall of Gaddafi in Libya are you also positive about a new tolerance towards polygamy and Sharia law?. Is it compatible with the values ​​of the European Union? Your questions today to one of the most renowned journalists in Italy, who is now a Member of the European Parliament and Founder of the ‘I Love Italy’ party, Magdi Cristiano Allam.

euronews:

Thank you for being with us. A lot of people have written in about this but we have no video. People want to know what you think about the large number of Copts who have been killed this year. I believe they make up ten per cent of the entire Egyptian population.

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

I am delighted that the European Parliament has recently approved a resolution condemning the killings, discrimination and the persecution of the Copts in Egypt. Christians are intervening for the first time and implementing sanctions with the Egyptian government.

euronews:

What kind of sanctions?

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

The penalties have not been specified but the EU is showing it is committed to ending the persecution of Christians in Egypt and I hope that this time, we will make decisions that really matter because we need to safeguard the foundations of our civilisation which is freedom of religion.

The penalties have not been specified but the EU is showing it is committed to ending the persecution of Christians in Egypt and I hope that this time, we will make decisions that really matter because we need to safeguard the foundations of our civilisation which is freedom of religion.

euronews:

There’s a theme emerging, let’s go to the first question.

Irina, Russia:

Are you concerned about the implementation of Sharia law in the countries of Arabic Spring?

euronews:

Nobody expected this to come from the Arab Spring, at least not in Europe. Do you think we share the same views in Europe that people have in Egypt about Sharia Law?

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

The problems facing these people are not democracy or freedom, but poverty and unemployment. We have been lured into believing they had other expectations. Today we find Islamist extremists are in power and the regimes say they want to use Sharia as a guide so I think it is time to understand that we mustn’t be fooled into thinking elections mean automatic democracy. They are only an instrument of democracy and we must ask all those involved in the elections to share the values ​​that underpins democracy.

euronews:

Does it bother you sometimes that we are trying to impose our values, our words and our democracy onto other countries?

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

We don’t impose anything because these are the values ​​which are the fundamentals of humanity. When we talk about the right to life, when we talk about human dignity, about freedom of choice, we are talking about absolute and universal values.

euronews:

Ok, a second question on I Talk

Jacques, France:

Hi, my name is Jacques and I am French. My question is about what happened two days ago in Paris, after a petrol bomb attack targeted a magazine which dared to change its name from Charlie Hebdo to Hebdo Sharia? What are your thoughts on this?

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

This isn’t the first time that Islamist extremists have show their intolerance towards freedom of expression. I believe that Europe should begin to require everybody’s compliance with rules that entail rights guaranteed to everyone without discrimination and that should be honoured by all, without exception including Islamist extremists.

euronews:

Well, you know what they’ll say, they’ll argue that they are part of a much stronger law, the law of God and the respect for religion

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

We are in a free and democratic state, so if for example we pick on Christianity, if we insult the church, the Christian faith or even the Pope, we can say it is freedom of expression. But if you attack and criticise Islam or the Prophet Muhammad,it is considered an outrage that must be paid with blood and this is unacceptable.

euronews:

Another question

Jean Louis, Belgium

Salam alikum Ahmet. Hello to those of you who follow Islam, I have a question, do you think you can follow Islam and be a democrat? Because I see more and more people who call themselves Muslims and Democrats. My religious convictions however say you can’t because the Creator is the only legislator and now, I see an increasing number of people who prefer democracy to Shariah law.

euronews:

This is a recurring theme, a lot of people have been asking similar questions.

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

First I’d like to thank him for his contribution because it helps us to understand that in Europe we must ensure everyone respects democracy regardless of one’s faith. It must be clear to Islamist extremists that Europe is a haven for all and that we do not discriminate against anyone. People who live in Italy and Europe have to respect the fundamental values of life and they include religious liberty.

euronews:

In following your beliefs you’re risking your life. You’re constantly surrounded by bodyguards, why do you put yourself through it?

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

Because I think it’s time to say that it is our right and our duty to tell the truth and always protect freedom. If we aren’t able to do that, even in this large home we call Europe our civilization will be threatened.

euronews:

Another question for Magdi Allam

Christian, Germany:

Hello, I’m Christian, 29 years old from Germany and I would like to put a question forward about the present development in Islamic countries, especially in Tunisia where they just had elections. In Germany, a lot has been reported on the Islamist revolutions and I would like to know if these revolutions are democratic or if religion has priority over them. That’s the question that interests me and lots of the other European citizens.

euronews:

Many European citizens have been disappointed, well, I mean surprised by this. They imagined the Facebook generation in Tunisia would vote for a political party closer to European politics.

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

We have been deceived by appearances. In these countries there are only two centres of power, the military barracks and the mosques… The middle class does not exist, there is no middle class that can express itself in a genuine civil society… As Europeans we must commit ourselves to promote the birth of a middle class in order to have true democracy…. I am concerned about what is happening in Tunisia, with the victory of an Islamic extremist party. Historically, when extremists come to power they do not leave peacefully.

euronews:

One last question for Magdi Allam, here on I Talk.

Lina, Lithuania:

Hello, my name is Lina and I would like to ask what you think about the fact that Palestine has now become a member of Unesco? And also, there’s a question about it potentially becoming a member of the UN.

euronews:

Obviously you expect more, very briefly please.

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

We are all in favour of an independent Palestinian state, but it has to live together peacefully with the State of Israel and this requires negotiations between the two parties, end of.

euronews: interrupts…

But they tried, they’ll tell you they have tried to negotiate.

Madgi Cristiano Allam:

The only possible solution that can come from this will be the outcome of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority otherwise more mistakes will continue to be made.

euronews:

Thank you Magdi Cristiano Allam, for answering our questions.

euronews:

Thank you for watching I Talk at our virtual studio here in the European Parliament in Brussels. If you would like to pose any questions for our next guests, feel free it’s euronews.net / i-talk, Thank you very much, see you soon.

More about: European Union, Italian politics, Religion, Unrest in Egypt, Unrest in the Arab world

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