Covering up nude statues for Iran President's visit 'incomprehensible'

Italy’s culture minister has criticised as “incomprehensible” the decision to cover up naked statues at a Rome museum where Iranian president Hassan Rouhani was visiting.

Covering up nude statues for Iran President's visit 'incomprehensible'

Italy’s culture minister has criticised as “incomprehensible” the decision to cover up naked statues at a Rome museum where Iranian president Hassan Rouhani was visiting.

Dario Franceschini said that neither he nor premier Matteo Renzi were informed about the decision, which was apparently taken by lower-ranking officials in a bid to avoid offending the visiting leader.

The cover-up involved the placement of several wooden panels to shield nude statues at Rome’s Capitoline Museums, where Mr Rouhani and Mr Renzi held a joint press conference on Monday.

The measures made headlines across Italy and prompted some politicians to accuse the government of caving in to “cultural submission”.

“I think there easily would have been other ways to not offend an important foreign guest without this incomprehensible choice of covering up the statues,” Mr Franceschini said.

He spoke to reporters at the Colosseum, where he gave Mr Rouhani a guided tour before the Iranian delegation left for France.

Mr Rouhani, for his part, said the Iranians had not requested any such measures by saying “there were no contacts about this”. But he seemed to appreciate the gesture.

“I know that Italians are a very hospitable people, a people who try to do the most to put their guests at ease and I thank you for this,” he told reporters when asked about the cover-up.

Mr Rouhani’s visit was aimed at pushing Iran into a more prominent role on the world stage after the nuclear deal with Western powers ended most European economic sanctions on Tehran.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Hawaii fire survivors moving into housing but 3,000 still in hotels Hawaii fire survivors moving into housing but 3,000 still in hotels
Judge says former Trump lawyer should be debarred Judge says former Trump lawyer should be debarred
Science stock ‘Game-changer’ test spots signs of motor neurone disease before symptoms – study
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited