Italy Covers Its Marble Genitals for Iranian President

It also won't be serving wine
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 26, 2016 5:00 PM CST
Italy Covers Its Marble Genitals for Iranian President
Wooden panels cover nude statues inside Rome's Capitoline Museum in preparation for a visit from Iranian president Hassan Rouhani.   (Giuseppe Lami/ANSA via AP)

Does anyone know what size pants Michelangelo's David wears? Italy covered up nude statues in advance of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani's visit this week, the BBC reports. According to the Independent, "plain white boards" were placed in front of certain sculptures at the Capitoline Museum in Rome as a "sign of respect" for Rouhani. In addition, wine won't be served at official meals with Rouhani (something France can't abide). Both are steps Italy has taken in the past during visits from dignitaries from Iran and other Middle East countries. Rouhani is on a European tour to "boost economic ties" in the wake of Iran's new nuclear deal, according to the BBC. "Unemployment creates soldiers for terrorists," he says. (More Hassan Rouhani stories.)

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