Italian European Affairs Minister Andrea Ronchi has proposed a registry for imams in Italy, in order to control the building of mosques, and a referendum to urge for more integration of places of worship according to the social and urban contexts where they are based. Ronchi made the proposals suggesting that the initiatives would improve…
A controversial project to build a mosque in Bologna has been scrapped, due to lack of agreement from local Muslims concerning two key conditions. The city’s Islamic Cultural Centre failed to reply to a letter laying town two essential conditions for the mosque to go ahead; the city’s councillor, Virginio Merola says this indicated a…
On Easter services at the Vatican, Pope Benedict baptized a Muslim-born convert, who is among Italy’s most famous and controversial journalists. Magdi Allam, a 55-year old Egyptian-born journalists and fierce critic of Islamic extremism and strong supporter of Israel, kept his conversion to Christianity a well-kept secret, disclosed by the Vatican in a statement less…
The Union of Islamic Communities and Organizations in Italy (UCOII), Italy’s umbrella Muslim group, released a statement stating that most Muslims in the country are not involved I subversive activities. “UCOII would like to reassure the community that the great majority of Muslims are not involved in any activities that are subversive and against public…
ROME (AP) – The editor of an Italian monthly has apologized for any offence to Muslims over a humorous caption for a drawing showing the Prophet Muhammad in hell, Italian news reports said Sunday. The journal Studi Cattolici (Catholic Studies), which offers a variety of opinions on cultural issues, ran the caption and drawing in…
