The whole italian political world cropped up against this sentence, as the 90% of italian people is currently doing. It's useless to mention Catholic Church comments

The controversy is: "accept our rules, or go home". The problem is that Mr Smith is italian... But it's true, in an islamic country you can hardly ask not to show the Holy Coran from everywhere...
I'm tolerant, I respect all religions, all believes and every color.
Now, why not ask to have, in that classroom, both the crucifix and the Coran instead of removing it all?
Respect and tolerance worldwide would mean much less problems.
Ciao
Paolo