Italy, a serene and peaceful country dotted by exquisite works of art from some of the brightest and most famous artists in the world is now in a fit of rage over a ruling passed on by the European Court of Human Rights, according to which, the Crucifix, that is a symbol of Christianity will no longer be visible in schools across Italy. Italy is also the sole neighbor of the throne of Christianity, the Vatican City and thus the crucifix plays an extremely important part in the Italian citizens’ lives.

According to Rocco Buttiglione (Former Culture Minister, Italy)

“This is an abhorrent ruling. It must be rejected with firmness. Italy has its culture, its traditions and its history. Those who come among us must understand and accept this culture and this history.”

In the recent years, Italy has witnessed a massive surge in its population, largely due to mass immigration of people from other nations, especially, those of Muslim ethnicity. The court ruling was given considering the fact, that the crucifix in each and every class room might have a negative effect on the children of other religion.

The Italian government has assured the public, that it will immediately appeal against the ruling and one of the cabinet ministers went to the length of branding the sentence as “absurd”. In a statement, the Italian Bishop’s Conference said,

“The multiple significance of the crucifix, which is not just a religious symbol but a cultural sign, has been either ignored or overlooked,”

The ruling from the European Court of Human Rights came in the wake of a lawsuit against the Italian government brought on by Soile Lautsi, a mother of two, who was seeking damages after the local pubic schools refused to take down the crucifixes, eight years ago. The tribunal awarded Ms. Lautsi a $7,390 damage claim. The plaintiff had stated that the crucifixes in Italian public schools, violated the secular principles of education and in many ways were indirectly preaching Christianity.

Via Time.