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Italy: Milan Jewish leader supports mosque

Other News Materials 7 October 2010 16:50 (UTC +04:00)
A Jewish leader in Milan say Italy's freedom of religion should be enough to allow for the building of a mosque in the country's business hub. The city's mayor and Italy's interior minister have voiced opposition to the construction of a new Islamic place of worship.
Italy: Milan Jewish leader supports mosque

A Jewish leader in Milan say Italy's freedom of religion should be enough to allow for the building of a mosque in the country's business hub. The city's mayor and Italy's interior minister have voiced opposition to the construction of a new Islamic place of worship, AKI reported.

"The Jewish Community of Milan is in favour of the construction of a new mosque in the city because it respects the parameters of the constitution which allows for freedom of worship," said Daniele Nahum, vice president of the Jewish advocacy organisation, in an interview with Adnkronos International.

Many Muslims in Milan aim to build a new mosque following the recent closing of another mosque because of a security issue. Authorities said they closed the mosque because its small size could not accommodate all the faithful during Friday prayers. Crowds every week would spill out on to the street.

The Catholic Church has come out in favour of a new mosque with Milan's archbishop Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi calling for more tolerance from the city's municipal government toward the Muslim community.

While Milan's Muslims may have found an ally in the powerful Vatican, they have failed to sway the opinion of Mayor Letizia Moratti who recently spoke at a Milan rally declaring that "the Milan mosque will not be built. At least not without government support."

She was echoing similar comments by Italian interior minister Roberto Maroni who in September brushed off the possibility of government support for a Milan mosque when he told reporters, "I'm an interior minister, not a mosque builder."

Maroni belongs to the xenophobic Northern League party which been vocal in its opposition to mosques. Among its anti-Muslim moves was to parade a pig over land where a mosque was slated to be constructed.

Milan has 208,021 immigrants making up 16 percent of its population - more than double the national average of 6.5 percent, according to a report by the Milan city council. Many of the immigrants are Muslims arriving from northern Africa.

Nahum, the Jewish activist, says a Islamic place of worship could contribute to Milan's culture.

"We consider the construction of a mosque as something that can enrich the culture," he said, adding that it there must be caution that it isn't used as gathering place that can compromise national security.

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