Muslims and politians spring to Mourinho´s defence

Italian Politicians and Muslim leaders have sprung to the defence of Jose Mourinho after reported threats were made against the Inter Milan coach on extremist websites.

British newspaper Daily Star claimed that death threats had been made against Mourinho on some Islamic sites following comments the Portuguese made relating to Ramadan.

Last week Mourinho had explained his early substitution of Ghana’s Muntari Sulley against Bari by saying that the practising Muslim lacked energy, possibly due to observing the Muslim fast during the month of Ramadan.

The threats made on chat forums came after the president of the Union of Islamic communities and organisations in Italy (UCOII) Mohamed Nour Dachan had said Mourinho should talk less.

But Dachan responded to the threats by saying: “We firmly condemn the threats made to the Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho with whom we want to express our solidarity.”

Claudio D’Amico, a politicain for the right-wing Lega Nord, also spoke out in support of Mourinho and hit out at Muslim extremists.

“As usual there are Muslims who want to apply liberty of expression and democracy in their own fashion,” he said.

“People cannot even make a simple observation, such as during Ramadan a Muslim who doesn’t eat has less energy, without inciting someone’s wrath.

“What Mourinho said is not offensive to anyone, especially the Islamic religion, but a simple banal observation.”

However, D’Amico hit out at Dachan for his earlier comments.

“Maybe Dachan is forgetting that freedom of thought and of expression is a fundamental pillar of our democracy.

“But if he doesn’t share this principle he can also go and live in a Muslim country with our warmest blessings.”

Mourinho himself, though, hit out at the media for twisting his words and said they were at fault for the threats against him.

“If something happens it will be your fault,” he told journalists at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday night’s Milan derby.

“The Muntari situation is your responsibility, not mine. I know what I said, it’s been taped but you like to change the words.

“I said ‘one cannot criticise Muntari’s decision because it is a question of faith and religion’.

“That means that I accept it, I never said Muntari should forget his faith and his practices.

“If someone in the Islamic community is angry with me, it’s your fault.”