Italy: Defense minister warns Muslims to 'stop provocations'

Italy's defense minister warned the country's Muslims to stop further "provocations" after thousands held prayers in public squares in Milan during pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the past week.


Ignazio La Russa, from the right-wing National Alliance, said he did not oppose protests or want to deny anyone the right to pray, but called the public prayers a challenge to peace.


"I say enough of the provocations of Islamists in Milan," he told Il Giornale newspaper on Sunday. "In Milan, a legitimate demonstration ended in a deliberately provocative mosque under the open sky."


Thousands of Muslims knelt with their heads bowed to the ground in prayer before Milan's central train station in one of several pro-Palestinian protests on Saturday.


A week ago, Muslims held prayers in front of Milan's central cathedral, angering right-wing politicians in the overwhelming Catholic country who called it an affront to Christianity.


Muslim leaders later apologized, saying no offence was intended. There are about 1 million Muslims in Italy, making up almost two percent of the population.


"What would have happened if a group of Christians gathered together to pray with a rosary before Mecca? They probably would have been stoned," said La Russa, who described himself as a practicising Catholic who attends Mass almost every Sunday.


Milan's deputy mayor issued a similar warning to Muslims, saying four protests in seven days was too much


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Source: Reuters (English)


See also:
* Milan: More on cathedral prayer
* Milan: Controversy over prayer during protest
* Italy: Muslims urge president to press for Gaza ceasefire

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