Mosque minarets

Italy is fighting a rapidly increasing Muslim presence by introducing a bill to block construction of Islamic mosques and prohibit minarets, or prayer watchtowers, and loudspeaker chants.

Italy's Northern League, a political movement that is part of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's governing coalition, introduced the legislation. According to a Financial Times report, Northern League Chief of Deputies Roberto Cota will present the bill to parliament next week.

The proposal will also require mosques to be at least one kilometer away from nearby churches, and sermons must be conducted in Italian rather than Arabic.

Critics say the bill will face insurmountable challenges because it violates constitutional rights and lacks support from Berlusconi's Forza Italia Party and the National Alliance. However, the Catholic UDC Party supports the bill.

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Italy is estimated to be the home of 1.2 million Muslims and 258 registered mosques, and Islam is the second largest religion in the country. Many Italians have become concerned about what they believe to be an overwhelming Islamic presence.

Italian authorities have already suspended plans to build a mosque in Bologna.

According to the UK Guardian, members of Silvio Berlusconi's government proposed a similar law in 2004 because they said mosques can be used to "spread hatred for the West."

In 2001, the U.S. Treasury department dubbed a major mosque in Milan as "the main al-Qaida station house in Europe."

 

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