AMERICA/USA - “I will put up a fight if anyone tries to remove the Crucifix from classrooms” says Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim chaplain of Georgetown University

Rome (Fides Service)- “I am convinced that the Cross is an important religious symbol for all people. And I would object to the cross being removed from classrooms at Georgetown University”. This statement was made yesterday 5 May in Rome by Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim chaplain of Georgetown University, Washington, DC, who was speaking at a media conference. Georgetown University, a Catholic campus, was the first college in the United States to engage a full time Muslim chaplain. “Georgetown has students of many different faiths. Some Catholics wonder if as a sign of respect for non Christians, crosses should be removed from classrooms. As a Muslim I have no difficulty in working in a classroom where there is a cross; in fact I am ready to put up a fight to make sure the cross stays in place” Imam Yahya Hendi told the press.
At the end of the meeting Yahya Hendi told the journalists: “It is your job to give people hope. Give your readers hope. Unless there is hope it will be difficult to build a better world”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/5/2004 righe 17 parole 186)