[attach id=387030 size="medium"]Mario Philip Azzopardi has been appointed V-18 Foundation artistic director. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]

Mario Philip Azzopardi’s anti-Islamist comments should have nothing to do with his role as artistic director of a national cultural entity, according to the Valletta 2018 Foundation, even if the organisation is tasked with promoting cultural diversity.

In a statement yesterday, the organisation said Mr Azzopardi’s comments were his “own personal opinion” and should not be “mixed” with his position as artistic director.

Mr Azzopardi raised eyebrows with a series of Facebook comments last August when he wrote he would treat any Muslim who practises Sharia law with the same contempt he would reserve for Nazis, Klu Klux Klan members and slave traders. He had insisted that anyone who does not practice Sharia law was not a Muslim and had made a “call to cultural arms”, while referring to Muslims as “idiots”.

He wrote he would treat any Muslim practising Sharia law with the same contempt as Nazis, Klu Klux Klan members and slave traders

The film and theatre producer, who had spent several years living in Canada, a country known for cultural diversity, had even threatened violence against anyone practising Sharia law who would seek to attain any form of political power on the island.

V-18 yesterday disassociated itself from Mr Azzopardi’s comments, saying they were made several months ago and that he had not yet taken up his role.

He is expected to take over the artistic directorship in the new year.

The foundation also said Mr Azzopardi’s statement were in relation to Islamic State and Islamist extremism, adding that he was “sorry if he was unclear or worse still, could be interpreted as though he was against cultural diversity”.The statement goes on to say that he was “sorry if what he wrote could have insulted anyone’s sentiments”.

In contrast to the apology, Mr Azzopardi told Times of Malta his comments were in line with international human rights conventions. Culture Minister Owen Bonnici on the other hand, took issue with the comments when they were brought to his attention by this newspaper.

He described them as unwarranted and not in line with his views or those of the government.

He would not commit when asked if he would still accept Mr Azzopardi’s appointment to the foundation, saying he would need to look deeper into what was said.