ROME: The Italian government got much tougher on illegal immigrants lately. It seems it is also getting tough on Islam. The Northern League, which has four ministers in Silvio Berlusconi’s newly-formed government, has made a start on a crackdown: It has razed a mosque in Verona.
"I never felt at ease with this mosque," said Elisonder Antonneli, the head of Verona city council.
"This place will be turned into a park and a car parking space and will be named after Oriana Fallaci." Fallaci was famous for her stand against Islam, and fearless in airing her views. She died in 2006.
Abu Shwaima, the Muslim leader said Muslims in the city of Verona used to find spiritual comfort at that mosque.
"We want to tell the Muslim world that mosques' construction in Italy is almost a mission impossible. Except for the Milan-based Islamic Center and the Rome mosque, there are no real mosques in Italy." He said: "We believe the life of Italian Muslims will get more complicated."
There are 20,000 Muslims in Verona, and 1.2 million in Italy as a whole, including 20,000 Italian converts to the faith.
Hat tip: Sons of Apes and Pigs and Islam Online
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