Gadhafi hosts Italian women, tries to convert them

AP News | 2009-11-16 19:33:22

<div id="subtitle">Libya's Gadhafi tries to convert 200 young Italian women, paid by modeling agency, to Islam</div><div><p>Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi hosted a soiree in Rome for some 200 young Italian women, but instead of the party they expected the women were given a lecture on Islam and copies of the Quran, a news report said Monday.</p><p>At least they got paid.</p><p>A reporter for Italy's ANSA news agency went undercover with the women, who were hired for euro50 ($75) by a modeling agency for the event Sunday evening. Journalist Paola Lo Mele said the women assembled at a hotel, where some where left behind because they were not tall enough or dressed modestly enough.</p><p>Those accepted were taken to a villa, where Gadhafi lectured them on women's rights and religion, and urged them to convert to Islam.</p><p>"All the girls expected a party with a gala dinner," Lo Mele told her agency. Instead, "he made a 45-minute speech on Islam and women's role in Islam. It was a bit of an indoctrination session."</p><p>Lo Mele took pictures before and after the event, showing the women carrying Qurans they received as gifts. A second soiree was planned for Monday evening, ANSA said.</p><p>Gadhafi was in Rome to attend a U.N. summit on world hunger.</p><p>After his speech, Gadhafi made an impromptu visit to one of downtown Rome's swankiest piazzas, stopping traffic as he sat down at an outdoor cafe for something to drink.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=63529052&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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