A Rome university lecturer and TV
pundit who hailed a Red Brigades (BR) terrorist who died Monday
after taking part in the 1978 kidnapping of Christian Democrat
leader Aldo Moro that killed his five escorts may face
disciplinary action, La Sapenza said Wednesday.
Political philosopher professor Donatella Di Cesare said on the
death at 75 of Barbara Balzerani: "Your revolution was also
mine. Different ways do not cancel ideas. With a heavy heart a
farewell to Comrade Luna (Moon) #barbarabalzerani".
La Sapienza said Wednesday that proceedings had been started and
University Minister Anna Maria Bernini had been informed.
Balzerani, who never reneged on her past of political violence,
but said she was sorry for the victims, was involved in several
killings, including the 1978 raid in which five member of
ex-premier Aldo Moro's security escort were murdered.
Moro was kidnapped in the raid, and killed 54 days later.
Balzerani was also involved in the abduction of United States
General James L. Dozier in 1981.
The previous year she was part of the BR hit squad that
assassinated magistrate Girolamo Minervini.
She was arrested in 1985.
Due to her ability to dodge arrest she was dubbed "the scarlet
pimpernel" by the Italian media.
Di Cesare's praise for Balzerani was condemned by the centre
right, with rightwing League leader Matteo Salvini calling it a
"disgrace" and added: "In a university xhair at the Sapienza
and very often a guest of the TV salons of (independent
broadcaster) La7.
"An unacceptable insult for the victims of Red terrorism. "Shame
on her.
"Prof Donatella Di Cesare celebrates the dead BR woman Barbara
Balzerani".
The dean of Sapienza University on Tuesday voiced her "dismay
and disbelief" at Di Cesare's tribute to Balzerani.
The Sapienza rector, Antonella Polimeni, according to a
statement from Italy's biggest uni, "speaking on behalf of the
entire academic community, recalls the very high tribute of
blood paid by La Sapienza University in the season of terrorism,
confirms the firm condemnation of all forms of violence and
distances herself from any statement of support or closeness to
ideas, facts and people who do not respect or have not respected
the laws of the Republic and the democratic principles expressed
by the Constitution".
Other rightwing politicians said they were "amazed" at what De
Cesare had written about Balzerani, with Brothers of Italy (FdI)
House Whip Tommaso Foti saying "we need deep reflection on the
dangerousness of giving a sounding board, in the universities
and on television, to people who are nostalgic for a dark time,
in which they affirmed sick and revolutionary ideas with machine
guns, bombs and kidnappings that ended in tragedy."
Foti called on the "whole world of politics, as well as La
Sapienza's heads, to take their due distance from those
nostalgic for hatred and terrorism".
Di Cesare replied by saying: "I'm surprised and disconcerted
over the storm that has been raised.
"I have read statements from ministers who have stigmatised me
with very heavy words," De Cesare went on. "I have always been
against all forms of violence. "That is attested to by my life,
my writings, and my teaching. "I recalled Barbara Balzerani's
death, whom I've always been distant from. In that context I
touched on that radical transformation to which my generation
aspired. "Some chose armed struggle; I took the path of
feminism. "I experienced the violence of those years in prima
persona, that of many Fascists". She said she had deleted the
post on X "fearing that it might be misunderstood, something
which actually happened".
Centre-left and leftwing politicians did not join the chorus of
criticism for Di Cesare.
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