Italy sets up a council of “Italian Islam” to help integrate Muslims
Italy is setting up a council of “Italian Islam” that claims to be bringing the religion into compliance with the country’s “Christian and humanist tradition”. The Council of Relations with Italian Islam would be an advisory body aiming at furthering integration.
Interior minister Angelino Alfano said the Council of Relations with Italian Islam would be an advisory body aiming at furthering integration. The reason for the controversial creation was not made clear in a statement by interior minister Angelino Alfano, although he did say provinces “concerned with immigration” would be involved.
A spokesperson said the religion would be “law-abiding and compatible with Italian regulations”, without saying what rules, if any, Muslims were currently believed to be breaking in the country.
It comes as migrants and refugees from Africa and the Middle East continue to arrive on Italy’s shores, mainly on the southern island of Sicily.
More than 320,000 asylum seekers have arrived in the past two years, mainly on rescue ships deployed by a Europe-wide mission in response to successive boat disasters that have killed thousands of men, women and children.
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