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‘The greatest violence is poverty,’ wrote a Peruvian priest who dedicated his life to denouncing structural injustices.

On Tuesday, Romulo Vasquez, the prior of the Dominican Province in Peru, confirmed that Father Gustavo Gutierrez, considered one of the main theorists of Liberation Theology, died in Lima at the age of 96.

Born in 1928, Gutierrez was ordained as a priest when he was 31 years old. He published numerous books and articles on theology and social activism, which have been translated into several languages. Throughout his career, he received more than 30 honorary doctorates from universities around the world.

In in one of his last interviews at the Vatican in 2015, Gutierrez recalled that the Catholic Church never condemned Liberation Theology, a new way of living the Christian experience that emerged in Latin America after the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).

“There has never been a condemnation of Liberation Theology. Never… What did happen was a dialogue with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. A very critical dialogue, certainly,” he explained.

During the 1980s, however, Liberation Theology was harshly criticized in several documents by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, when Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, was prefect.

“‘The greatest violence is poverty,’ wrote Gustavo Gutierrez. His denunciation of the capitalist structural injustices earned him the hostility of John Paul II and the most conservative sectors of the Catholic Church, such as Opus Dei and the Legionaries of Christ. The criticisms did not deter him from his view of Christianity as a liberating message,” the Spanish writer Rafael Narbona explained.

“Gutierrez never tired of repeating that ‘poverty is not a fate, it is a condition; it is not misfortune, it is injustice. It is the result of social structures and mental and cultural categories, linked to how society has been built in its various forms’,” he added.

“Poverty is a scandalous condition that attacks human dignity and, therefore, it is contrary to the will of God,” said the Latin American theologian committed to the poor.

“His way of understanding the Gospel cost him misunderstanding and rejection by the hierarchy. Pope Francis put an end to the criticisms and praised his work, encouraging him to continue writing,” Narbona said.

“Gutierrez understood theology as ‘a protest against trampled human dignity, a struggle against the dispossession of the vast majority of people, an act of love that liberates in the construction of a new, just, and fraternal society’,” The Spanish writer recalled regarding a Peruvian Franciscan father who became a universal philosopher.

Started in 1995 by Catholic liberation theology bishops & social movements like the MST, "Grito dos Excluidos" brings tens of thousands to the streets of dozens of cities every year on Brazil's Independence Day. This year's theme was eradicating hunger.

October 31, 2024

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• Yahya Sinwar was killed by the Israeli military on October 17. Now he is honored on the walls of Roskilde University. (Photo: © Benjamin Haxha)

Students and staff at Roskilde University encountered widespread graffiti vandalism on the university’s facades on Tuesday.

The graffiti praised the deceased Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to be one of the main architects behind the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.

"Rest in power, Yahya Sinwar, long live resistance," was written on one of the walls.

Elsewhere, the graffiti equates Zionists with Nazis, while at least two places say, "Zionists should be afraid."

On a fence, it is also written that the university's rector and director, Hanne Leth and Henrik Zobbe, are "proud, genocidal racists."

There have been several instances of vandalism at Roskilde University. In early September, students were met with messages like "One solution, Intifada revolution."

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• Vandalism has also affected one of the entrances to Roskilde University. According to the minister, it should have serious consequences for the perpetrators. (Photo: © Benjamin Haxha)

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• "Zionism equals Nazism," reads one of the spray-painted messages. (Photo: © Benjamin Haxha)

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• The school leadership, in the form of the rector and university director at Roskilde University, Hanne Leth and Henrik Zobbe, are also accused with harsh accusations. (Photo: © Benjamin Haxha)

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• "Zionists should be afraid" is written in several places on campus. (Photo: © Sarah Weibel)

Student Movement Shares Image of Vandalism

It is unclear who is behind the vandalism.

On Instagram, the pro-Palestinian student movement RUC Intifada, which has held several demonstrations at Roskilde University, shared a picture of the vandalism and wrote, "We welcome RUC’s awakening."

DR News asked RUC Intifada if they knew anything about the vandalism. They have not responded to our inquiry.

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• Image from RUC Intifada's Instagram. "Now even campus walls speak out loud and clear," says the post.

The student movement gained attention when a demonstration at Roskilde University on October 4 escalated. Masked participants pulled forcefully at doors to locked areas, entered offices and meeting rooms where staff were present, and prevented some personnel from attending meetings, reported Berlingske at the time.

Today, the movement held another demonstration at Roskilde University. According to their Instagram account, they planned to "honor the dead in Gaza and celebrate the martyrs who died fighting for freedom and justice."

The demonstration led the university administration to call the police, as it disrupted multiple staff members, Berlingske reports.

A P1 morning reporter on the scene also requested an interview with the student movement, which they declined.

On the movement’s Facebook page, RUC Intifada demands that Roskilde University boycott all Israeli institutions and companies that "profit from the occupation" and condemn Israeli actions.

Explanation of Terms

According to reference works, the word "intifada" means "uprising" and refers to two instances of Palestinian uprisings in Gaza and the West Bank.

The first intifada took place from 1987 to 1993 and involved a series of protests and violent riots by Palestinians, which were harshly suppressed by the Israeli military. The conflict was triggered when an Israeli truck driver hit a car, killing four Palestinians.

The second intifada occurred between 2000 and 2005. Israeli forces reoccupied several Palestinian cities, while Palestinians carried out a large number of terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings on Israeli buses.

• Source: britannica.com, Den Store Danske.

Minister: Perpetrators Should Be Expelled

Education and Research Minister Christina Egelund (M) calls the situation "serious" and strongly condemns the vandalism.

"This has nothing to do with debate. It is vandalism, intimidating behavior, harassment, and it has very real victims – namely, the Jewish students," Christina Egelund told P1 Morning before continuing:

"Imagine being Jewish and having to see a tribute to Yahya Sinwar at your university. This is far over the line."

She also considers the harsh messages directed at the university administration, including Hanne Leth and Henrik Zobbe, as "far, far over the line."

Christina Egelund believes it should have severe consequences for the perpetrators.

"If you are behind this type of behavior, I believe you should be expelled from the university," she told P1 Morning.

It will have consequences for the perpetrators if it turns out to be students at the university.

• Henrik Zobbe, University Director

It remains unknown whether those responsible for the graffiti are students at Roskilde University.

If they are, it will have consequences, assures Roskilde University director Henrik Zobbe.

"We don’t know who is behind it, but we have reported the graffiti to the police and will ensure it is removed as soon as possible. It will have consequences for the perpetrators if it turns out to be students at the university," he wrote in a statement.

He also clarified that the university disapproves of the messages written around campus.

How do you feel about being labeled as genocidal?

"We think the tone and statements are unnecessarily harsh, and we disagree with the criticism," said Henrik Zobbe.

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• The word "Intifada" is written letter by letter across a series of windows. (Photo: © Benjamin Haxha)

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• According to reference works, the word "intifada" means "uprising" and refers to two instances of Palestinian uprisings in Gaza and the West Bank. (Photo: © Benjamin Haxha)

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• Zionism is also labeled as a death cult on a window at Roskilde University. (Photo: © Benjamin Haxha)

Student Council: RUC Intifada Knows There is No Collaboration

Mads Hansen Bager, head of the Roskilde University Student Council, explains that earlier this year, the council investigated the university’s ties to Israel—the ties that RUC Intifada demands be cut.

According to him, none were found.

"We had the opportunity to review Roskilde University's financial investments in the West Bank and any scientific collaborations. We were pleased to find that there was nothing," Mads Hansen Bager told P1 Morning.

Did you inform RUC Intifada of this?

"In September, we had a dialogue meeting with RUC Intifada, where we conveyed this to them," Mads Hansen Bager said.

Jewish Community: Emphasizes Feeling of Insecurity

The Jewish Community in Denmark does not hesitate to call the vandalism and messages "unacceptable." They believe it clearly illustrates why Jewish students feel unsafe at Danish universities.

"For some time, we have received reports from Jewish students at Danish universities that it is necessary to hide their identity—not to mention the possibility of participating in debates on equal terms with other students," writes Henri Goldstein, chairman of the Jewish Community, in a statement.

"If you are met with graffiti containing threats and praise for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the man behind the October 7 terrorist attack, we no longer need to debate whether the feeling is unwarranted," writes the chairman.

He believes that Roskilde University should work harder to ensure a safe work environment.

"We expect the administration at Roskilde University to ensure a study environment that is safe and inclusive for all students, regardless of ethnicity, religion, and political stance. The time for hiding is over," says Henri Goldstein.

In response to the criticism from the Jewish Community, university director Henrik Zobbe replied:

"We understand that sharp rhetoric and actions can create insecurity among some students. We will do everything we can to ensure a study environment that is safe and inclusive for all students."

Most of the article’s photo documentation consists of images provided to DR by Benjamin Haxha, a RUC student and a candidate for the Liberal Party in the 2025 municipal elections in Herlev Municipality.