See also: Vatican: Church backs more mosques for worship
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Muslim intellectuals in Italy have rejected a plan by the conservative government to halt the construction of new mosques, arguing that a shortage of mosques was making it more difficult to monitor radical Islam. The anti-immigrant Northern League, a coalition partner, has renewed calls to stop any more mosques being built.
Its call followed the arrest on Tuesday of two Moroccans suspected of plotting terrorist attacks on several targets in the northern city of Milan.
One of the suspects accused of planning attacks in Milan was a Muslim preacher at an Islamic cultural centre outside the city.
"Rome's Grand Mosque is the only official mosque in Italy, so a moratorium on the construction of future mosques is futile," said the Association of Muslim Intellectuals in Italy's president, Gianpiero Vincenzo.
"It is far more important to regulate the various 'cultural centres' where Muslims in Italy have to gather for prayers because there are no more suitable venues," said Vincenzo.
The Grand Mosque in Rome has for some time been trying trying to set up a federation of cultural centres in Italy which pledge to abide by the peaceful and moderate principles of Islam, he said.
"It's a slow, delicate and strategically important task for the Muslim community in Italy and more help from the government and politicians would be invaluable," he said.
Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has sought approval to dissolve associations in Italy that promote terrorism.
The chief parliamentary whip for the Northern League party, Roberto Cota on Wednesday renewed earlier proposals by his party for a halt to mosque building in Italy. His call was met with outrage by centre-left opposition politicians.
(more)
Source: AKI (English)
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Muslim intellectuals in Italy have rejected a plan by the conservative government to halt the construction of new mosques, arguing that a shortage of mosques was making it more difficult to monitor radical Islam. The anti-immigrant Northern League, a coalition partner, has renewed calls to stop any more mosques being built.
Its call followed the arrest on Tuesday of two Moroccans suspected of plotting terrorist attacks on several targets in the northern city of Milan.
One of the suspects accused of planning attacks in Milan was a Muslim preacher at an Islamic cultural centre outside the city.
"Rome's Grand Mosque is the only official mosque in Italy, so a moratorium on the construction of future mosques is futile," said the Association of Muslim Intellectuals in Italy's president, Gianpiero Vincenzo.
"It is far more important to regulate the various 'cultural centres' where Muslims in Italy have to gather for prayers because there are no more suitable venues," said Vincenzo.
The Grand Mosque in Rome has for some time been trying trying to set up a federation of cultural centres in Italy which pledge to abide by the peaceful and moderate principles of Islam, he said.
"It's a slow, delicate and strategically important task for the Muslim community in Italy and more help from the government and politicians would be invaluable," he said.
Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has sought approval to dissolve associations in Italy that promote terrorism.
The chief parliamentary whip for the Northern League party, Roberto Cota on Wednesday renewed earlier proposals by his party for a halt to mosque building in Italy. His call was met with outrage by centre-left opposition politicians.
(more)
Source: AKI (English)
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