To the Editors:

Last Friday, Feb. 20, Sheik Professor Abdul Hadi Palazzi spoke to Oberlin students.

He is Secretary General of the Italian Muslim Association, a scholar and an ordained Islamic religious leader, as well as a lecturer on the history of religion.

He came to Oberlin to speak on a topic that we in Oberlin Zionists were particularly interested in hearing and believed would be of interest to the Oberlin community; that is, an Islamic view of minorities.

We were eager to further our understanding of the history of Islamic thought regarding tolerance for non-Muslims in Muslim dominated communities.

When our guest spoke on topic, he was well-informed and his erudition was clear to us.

Unfortunately, he also chose to speak about modern day politics. We do not see him as an expert nor were we interested in hosting him for these views.

We do not endorse these views and are saddened by his having strayed off-topic into his personal political opinions.

—Jacqueline Shields
College senior
—Yael Levin
College junior
Oberlin Zionists Co-Chairs