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Heart and Soul: Underground Islam in Italy

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Italy has only 8 Mosques, Imam Ben Mohammed has been told his is now illegal

29/09/2017 GMT

Underground Islam in Italy

BBC World Service - Heart and Soul, Underground Islam in Italy

How do Muslims practise in a country that doesn’t recognise their faith?

Italy doesn’t officially recognise Islam as a religion. Helen Grady finds out how difficult it is for them to build a mosque and how Italian Muslims come together to pray.

Unlike Christianity and Judaism, Islam is not recognised in Italy. There are only eight officially recognised mosques and that is despite being home to the fourth largest Muslim population in Europe. 

The recent government crackdown on the estimated 2,000 makeshift ‘garage’ mosques across Italy has led to mass protests.
 
The government have introduced a new ‘National Pact for an Italian Islam' but Muslims in Italy argue it’s not enough, the government  though claims, it is a step forward in the recognition of the faith.

Helen Grady visits the officially recognised Great Mosque of Rome, Europe’s largest mosque. Speaking to its Imam, he tells her that since February he is now being told he needs to preach his sermons in Italian even though no other religious group is made to do this.

Presenter: Helen Grady
Producer: Claire Press

Picture: Claire Press / Helen Grady

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