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".
Some centrist and centre-left politicians also joined the chorus of criticism of Di Cesare with centrist Azione (Action) leader Carlo Calenda saying "she does not have the ethical requisites to teach" and Democratic Party (PD) bigwig Gianni Cuperlo saying "she has trampled on our country's history".
Di Cesare told ANSA Wednesday evening: "I'd like to reiterate that I have always condemned all violent methods and all terrorist strategy. Nothing is closer to my heart than democracy in the fullest sense of this word.
"I immediately realised that that post, in its extreme concision, could raise the possibility of my thinking being misunderstood, as in fact unfortunately happened.
"I am very sorry for the misunderstanding which my words generated. I have always been against violence and I have always aimed for peace".
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