[Image]Rome, 23 Oct. (AKI) - An Italian conservative parliamentarian is under police protection as of Monday after her criticism of the Muslim veil led to threats which were considered serious by security officials. Daniela Santanche, a leading member of Italy's second-largest party in the conservative opposition, the right-wing National Alliance, said in two separate television interviews over the weekend she tought the Muslim veil "is not a religious symbol and it is not required by the Koran" and that "it is not a symbol of freedom."

The remarks, were first made on Sky Italia television during a talk show in which she was a guest with Ali Abu Shwaima, the imam of the mosque in Segrate, Milan, and then repeated during a popular Sunday show, Domenica In, on Italian state television.

Shwaima, an Italian citizen, responded saying she was "ignorant, false, an instigator of hate and an infidel" - accusations which interior ministry officials considered to be serious threats.

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