Italian city of Padua
Padua, 26 Sept. (AKI) - Some members of the Muslim community in the town of Bagnoli, located 30 kilometres from the northeastern Italian city of Padua, have begun patrolling the streets near their mosque in the wake of a series of acts of vandalism, Italian daily La Repubblica reported Wednesday.
The attacks have often taken place following afternoon prayers, with the the faithful returning to their parked cars and finding the tires slashed.
Volunteers who have started the patrols are equipped with fluorescent safety vests and flashlights.
"Don't call us vigilantes, we want to pray in peace, respecting Italian laws, without disturbing anyone" one of the volunteers, Mohammed el-Azouzi, was quoted as saying by Repubblica..
The attacks follow protests by representatives of anti-immigration parties in the area against the "spreading of Islamisation"
Remo Morello, a 70 year old Catholic priest whose church is only a few blocks from the Bagnoli mosque, has expressed his support for the Muslim community.
"Who could disturb a religious community which is praying and celebrating its holidays?" referring to the Muslim community's celebration of the holy month of Ramadan
"Maybe they are the same people who do not participate in their [own] church's celebrations".
Rome, 25 Sept. (AKI) - An Iranian cleric from the holy city of Qom and his wife will be giving a series of sermons and talks in the Italian capital, Rome over the next two weeks through the end of Ramadan, Italy's Shiite Imam Mahdi association confirmed to Adnkronos International (AKI).
The sermons by Hojjatulislam Abolfazl Imami and his wife, Hanieh Tarkian, will take place from 27 September to 13 October at Rome's Shiite Islamic Centre in south Rome.
Imami will give a key talk on Saturday 6 October, the 24th day of Ramadan, at a one-day conference entitled 'Day of Jerusalem and the Unity of of the Islamic Ummah'.
Iran's Revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah al-Khomeini, declared 6 October annual Al-Quds Day when all the world's Shiites should protest the presence of Israeli troops in Jerusalem.
Imami is an Islamic studies graduate from Qom's Imam Khomeini teaching and research institute.Tarkian graduated in Islamic studies at Qom's Al-Zahra University.
Shiism is the dominant form of Islam in Iran, although worldwide less than 10 percent of Muslims are Shiite and around 90 percent are Sunni.
Shiites believe that the Prophet Mohammed's religious authority is transmitted through direct descendants of his son-in-law and cousin Ali.
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Italy: Anti-immigrant politician calls for 'Pig-day'
Bologna, 14 Sept. (AKI) - Italian Senator and leader of the anti-immigrant Northern League party Roberto Calderoli, has called for a "Pig-day" to be held in the northern Italian city of Bologna to protest the construction of a new mosque.
Calderoli, who is vice-president of the Italian Senate, wants to make the land earmarked for the mosque "impure" for Muslims. He further claims that the mosque would become not a place of worship, but the centre of a terrorist cell.
In an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica, the president of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Bologna, Radwan Altoungi clarified that there is no religious text that prohibits the building of a Mosque where pigs have been.
"We Muslims cannot eat pig meat, that is all. I am troubled to have to comment about such a statement," Altoungi said, referring to Calderoli's plans to to take a walk with his pet pig across the plot of land where the mosque is intended to be built.
"I understand that Calderoli is more of an expert when it comes to pigs, rather than Islam," said social solidarity minister Paolo Ferrero.
"I will write to prime minister Prodi to propose shortly a law on religious freedom. This seems the best answer to Calderoli," Ferrero continued.
The "Pig-day" would follow a very successful protest held all over Italy last lastweekend against corrupt Italian politicians, called the "V-Day", referring to an Italian expletive - Vaffanculo.
In February 2006, as Italy's reforms minister, Calderoli appeared on national television wearing a shirt with the controversial Mohammed cartoons, sparking protests in the Libyan port city of Benghazi outside the Italian consulate that left 11 people dead.
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Italy: 'Anti-Islam prayer' condemned by key archbishop
Genova, 12 Sept.(AKI) - A prominent Italian archbishop has attacked plans for an 'anti-Islam prayer' planned in the northern city of Genoa on Wednesday.
Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference and archbishop of Genoa, has called the prayer "inopportune".
"The administration expresses its disapproval of the exploitation of the prayer," he told the Italian daily, La Repubblica.
The prayer was organised by the Genovese branch of the Italian political party Forza Italia and the extreme-right party of Forza Nuova.
The political protest was also organised to oppose the construction of a new mosque in Genoa which has provoked widespread debate in the city.
In the meantime, members of the lobby group, the Italian and International law Observatory group (O.D.D.I.I.) delivered a letter to the European Commission in Milan, protesting against Islamic fundamentalism and the Islamisation of Europe.
A protest was also held in Milan, where a prominent Italian terrorist from the 1970's Roberto Sandalo, from the Left-wing terrorist group Prima Linea, was seen holding anti-Islam signs.
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Italy: Police halt mosque's construction
Rome, 22 August (AKI) - Police in Rome have halted the construction of a new controversial mosque because of irregularities with building laws.
"Certain rooms were being enlarged and a partition wall knocked down without authorisation", police officer Carlo Buttarello was quoted as saying by Rome-daily, Il Messaggero.
But Rome's city council manager for security, Jean-Leonard Touadi, said the stoppage was temporary, and it "just needs for regulations to be respected", for work to resume.
The site for the planned mosque whose opening was scheduled for 7 September, is adjacent to the Roman Catholic Church of San Vito in Rome's multi-ethnic Esquilino neighbourhood.
The mosque's location next to a Christian site and concern with Islamic extremism associated with some Muslim centres in other parts of Italy including Milan has incensed those opposed to its construction.
But Touadi dismissed the criticism.
"Rome, the city which hosts the Vatican and the largest mosque in Europe (inaugurated in 1995 and shown in the photo), cannot and must not fear a new place of worship which instead must be guaranteed", he was quoted as saying by Il Messaggero.
Two of those opposed to the mosque are right-wing city councillors, Federico Mollicone and Stefano Tozzi, both of the opposition Alleanza Nazionale party - a member of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition.
"While we respect every sort of religious freedom, we find it inexplicable that [Rome mayor Walter] Veltroni and the city's Prefect can authorise and accept such a move in a district where cohabitation between Italian and foreigners is very difficult," they said in a joint statement issued Tuesday before the police's intervention at the site.
"In addition choosing that site in front of one of Christianity's most ancient churches is a serious religious provocation which would never be possible in Islamic nations," Mollicone and Tozzi said.
The Esquilino mosque which aims to serve Rome's Bangladeshi community was to open with prayers led by Sheikh Ubeidulhaqq, a prominent Muslim cleric who serves as imam of the Beit al-Mukarram mosque in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka.
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Italy: Planned mosque draws ire from right-wingers
Rome, 21 August (AKI) - Two rightwing councillors in Rome opposed to the opening of a new mosque which aims to serve Bangladeshis living in the Italian capital, have requested a police inspection of the premises.
Federico Mollicone and Stefano Tozzi, both of the oppostion Alleanza Nazionale party - a member of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition- said they believe the necessary rules and regulations for places of worship have not been respected.
"If the necessary authorisation does not exist, then we will demand (the premises'] closure.
''The opening of a mosque in the Esquilino district practically in front of the Church of San Vito concerns us", the two city councillors said in joint statement released Tuesday.
"While we respect every sort of religious freedom, we find it inexplicable that [Rome mayor Walter] Veltroni and the city's Prefect can authorise and accept such a move in a district where cohabitation between Italian and foreigners is very difficult", they added.
"In addition choosing that site in front of one of Christianity's most ancient churches is a serious religious provocation which would never be possible in Islamic nations," Mollicone and Tozzi said.
On Monday, Mustafa Kamal who heads the the Hil Ful Fuzul Social Organization supervising the mosque's construction, said that the opening was planned for 7 September.
Kamal also told Adnkronos International (AKI) that Sheikh Ubeidulhaqq, a prominent Muslim cleric who serves as prayer leader or imam of the Beit al-Mukarram mosque in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, would attend the inauguration ceremony.
Rome, the centre of the Roman Catholic world also hosts Europe's largest Muslim place of worship, the Grand Mosque, which was inaugurated in 1995
The attacks have often taken place following afternoon prayers, with the the faithful returning to their parked cars and finding the tires slashed.
Volunteers who have started the patrols are equipped with fluorescent safety vests and flashlights.
"Don't call us vigilantes, we want to pray in peace, respecting Italian laws, without disturbing anyone" one of the volunteers, Mohammed el-Azouzi, was quoted as saying by Repubblica..
The attacks follow protests by representatives of anti-immigration parties in the area against the "spreading of Islamisation"
Remo Morello, a 70 year old Catholic priest whose church is only a few blocks from the Bagnoli mosque, has expressed his support for the Muslim community.
"Who could disturb a religious community which is praying and celebrating its holidays?" referring to the Muslim community's celebration of the holy month of Ramadan
"Maybe they are the same people who do not participate in their [own] church's celebrations".
Rome, 25 Sept. (AKI) - An Iranian cleric from the holy city of Qom and his wife will be giving a series of sermons and talks in the Italian capital, Rome over the next two weeks through the end of Ramadan, Italy's Shiite Imam Mahdi association confirmed to Adnkronos International (AKI).
The sermons by Hojjatulislam Abolfazl Imami and his wife, Hanieh Tarkian, will take place from 27 September to 13 October at Rome's Shiite Islamic Centre in south Rome.
Imami will give a key talk on Saturday 6 October, the 24th day of Ramadan, at a one-day conference entitled 'Day of Jerusalem and the Unity of of the Islamic Ummah'.
Iran's Revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah al-Khomeini, declared 6 October annual Al-Quds Day when all the world's Shiites should protest the presence of Israeli troops in Jerusalem.
Imami is an Islamic studies graduate from Qom's Imam Khomeini teaching and research institute.Tarkian graduated in Islamic studies at Qom's Al-Zahra University.
Shiism is the dominant form of Islam in Iran, although worldwide less than 10 percent of Muslims are Shiite and around 90 percent are Sunni.
Shiites believe that the Prophet Mohammed's religious authority is transmitted through direct descendants of his son-in-law and cousin Ali.
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Italy: Anti-immigrant politician calls for 'Pig-day'
Bologna, 14 Sept. (AKI) - Italian Senator and leader of the anti-immigrant Northern League party Roberto Calderoli, has called for a "Pig-day" to be held in the northern Italian city of Bologna to protest the construction of a new mosque.
Calderoli, who is vice-president of the Italian Senate, wants to make the land earmarked for the mosque "impure" for Muslims. He further claims that the mosque would become not a place of worship, but the centre of a terrorist cell.
In an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica, the president of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Bologna, Radwan Altoungi clarified that there is no religious text that prohibits the building of a Mosque where pigs have been.
"We Muslims cannot eat pig meat, that is all. I am troubled to have to comment about such a statement," Altoungi said, referring to Calderoli's plans to to take a walk with his pet pig across the plot of land where the mosque is intended to be built.
"I understand that Calderoli is more of an expert when it comes to pigs, rather than Islam," said social solidarity minister Paolo Ferrero.
"I will write to prime minister Prodi to propose shortly a law on religious freedom. This seems the best answer to Calderoli," Ferrero continued.
The "Pig-day" would follow a very successful protest held all over Italy last lastweekend against corrupt Italian politicians, called the "V-Day", referring to an Italian expletive - Vaffanculo.
In February 2006, as Italy's reforms minister, Calderoli appeared on national television wearing a shirt with the controversial Mohammed cartoons, sparking protests in the Libyan port city of Benghazi outside the Italian consulate that left 11 people dead.
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Italy: 'Anti-Islam prayer' condemned by key archbishop
Genova, 12 Sept.(AKI) - A prominent Italian archbishop has attacked plans for an 'anti-Islam prayer' planned in the northern city of Genoa on Wednesday.
Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference and archbishop of Genoa, has called the prayer "inopportune".
"The administration expresses its disapproval of the exploitation of the prayer," he told the Italian daily, La Repubblica.
The prayer was organised by the Genovese branch of the Italian political party Forza Italia and the extreme-right party of Forza Nuova.
The political protest was also organised to oppose the construction of a new mosque in Genoa which has provoked widespread debate in the city.
In the meantime, members of the lobby group, the Italian and International law Observatory group (O.D.D.I.I.) delivered a letter to the European Commission in Milan, protesting against Islamic fundamentalism and the Islamisation of Europe.
A protest was also held in Milan, where a prominent Italian terrorist from the 1970's Roberto Sandalo, from the Left-wing terrorist group Prima Linea, was seen holding anti-Islam signs.
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Italy: Police halt mosque's construction
Rome, 22 August (AKI) - Police in Rome have halted the construction of a new controversial mosque because of irregularities with building laws.
"Certain rooms were being enlarged and a partition wall knocked down without authorisation", police officer Carlo Buttarello was quoted as saying by Rome-daily, Il Messaggero.
But Rome's city council manager for security, Jean-Leonard Touadi, said the stoppage was temporary, and it "just needs for regulations to be respected", for work to resume.
The site for the planned mosque whose opening was scheduled for 7 September, is adjacent to the Roman Catholic Church of San Vito in Rome's multi-ethnic Esquilino neighbourhood.
The mosque's location next to a Christian site and concern with Islamic extremism associated with some Muslim centres in other parts of Italy including Milan has incensed those opposed to its construction.
But Touadi dismissed the criticism.
"Rome, the city which hosts the Vatican and the largest mosque in Europe (inaugurated in 1995 and shown in the photo), cannot and must not fear a new place of worship which instead must be guaranteed", he was quoted as saying by Il Messaggero.
Two of those opposed to the mosque are right-wing city councillors, Federico Mollicone and Stefano Tozzi, both of the opposition Alleanza Nazionale party - a member of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition.
"While we respect every sort of religious freedom, we find it inexplicable that [Rome mayor Walter] Veltroni and the city's Prefect can authorise and accept such a move in a district where cohabitation between Italian and foreigners is very difficult," they said in a joint statement issued Tuesday before the police's intervention at the site.
"In addition choosing that site in front of one of Christianity's most ancient churches is a serious religious provocation which would never be possible in Islamic nations," Mollicone and Tozzi said.
The Esquilino mosque which aims to serve Rome's Bangladeshi community was to open with prayers led by Sheikh Ubeidulhaqq, a prominent Muslim cleric who serves as imam of the Beit al-Mukarram mosque in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka.
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Italy: Planned mosque draws ire from right-wingers
Rome, 21 August (AKI) - Two rightwing councillors in Rome opposed to the opening of a new mosque which aims to serve Bangladeshis living in the Italian capital, have requested a police inspection of the premises.
Federico Mollicone and Stefano Tozzi, both of the oppostion Alleanza Nazionale party - a member of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition- said they believe the necessary rules and regulations for places of worship have not been respected.
"If the necessary authorisation does not exist, then we will demand (the premises'] closure.
''The opening of a mosque in the Esquilino district practically in front of the Church of San Vito concerns us", the two city councillors said in joint statement released Tuesday.
"While we respect every sort of religious freedom, we find it inexplicable that [Rome mayor Walter] Veltroni and the city's Prefect can authorise and accept such a move in a district where cohabitation between Italian and foreigners is very difficult", they added.
"In addition choosing that site in front of one of Christianity's most ancient churches is a serious religious provocation which would never be possible in Islamic nations," Mollicone and Tozzi said.
On Monday, Mustafa Kamal who heads the the Hil Ful Fuzul Social Organization supervising the mosque's construction, said that the opening was planned for 7 September.
Kamal also told Adnkronos International (AKI) that Sheikh Ubeidulhaqq, a prominent Muslim cleric who serves as prayer leader or imam of the Beit al-Mukarram mosque in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, would attend the inauguration ceremony.
Rome, the centre of the Roman Catholic world also hosts Europe's largest Muslim place of worship, the Grand Mosque, which was inaugurated in 1995
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