Underground Islam in Italy
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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Massimiliano Romeo
Duration: 03:06
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- Fri 29 Sep 201712:32GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Sat 30 Sep 201701:32GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
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- Sun 1 Oct 201707:32GMTBBC World Service West and Central Africa
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- Sun 1 Oct 201721:32GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
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Heart and Soul
Personal approaches to religious belief from around the world.
