There is still a conflict between the right-wing government and the opposition. And once again, the crux of the conflict is civil rights. This time the theme is freedom of worship and the wick is a bill by the Brothers of Italy in the Chamber’s Environment Committee with the signature of group leader Tommaso Foti. Aim? Ban the conversion of industrial sheds or garages into places of worship for religions that have not signed a treaty with the state. But if the rule seems general, the result would be a ban on places of worship for the thousands of Muslims residing in Italy. In fact, Islam is the most widespread religion in Italy and the only religion that has not signed a treaty with the state. It is also a feature arising from the very complex nature of Islamic beliefs and communities in our region.
The accusation is to reconcile a founding constitutional principle of the Republic with a simple urban planning arrangement. And if Pd’s Marco Simiani, green Angelo Bonelli, Daniela Ruffino (Action-Iv) and Franco Manes (linguistic minorities) immediately voiced their opposition in the commission, the harshest reactions would certainly come from green Bonelli.
‘Non-liberal and discriminatory right’: Green Bonelli’s accusation
“To attack religious beliefs that are not recognized today by the bill first signed by Foti, one of Italy’s Brothers – to attack Bonelli – is an illiberal and discriminatory right, and the provision is clearly unconstitutional. I remember that the Constitutional Court intervened in a similar provision of the Lombardy region by declaring it unconstitutional because of the violation of Article 19 of the Constitution establishing freedom of worship. If the law was passed, religious congregations that had to be found to practice their worship in environments that did not comply with city planning documents would be closed, but this – according to the Italian Brotherhood – would only apply to Muslims and the unrecognized. There are many congregations and places of worship in Italy that are in environments that do not comply with the urban planning instruments that are not rightly closed. However, Foti wants to close the places where different sects are practiced. “This is unacceptable discrimination,” he said.
Claiming to have written to Speaker of the House Lorenzo, Bonelli concludes, “The right wing in government has the following priorities: the crazy decree, the decree against humanitarian permits, now against places of worship. It’s a shameful statement of the illiberal right.” Fontana will halt the project’s legislative process.
Reactions of Muslim communities
“Whoever proposes a similar law needs the lessons of the Constitution. The Charter enshrines freedom of worship and any bill that does not comply with these principles will be rejected. Several districts tried to do something similar, but were unsuccessful as it was unconstitutional. It is a pity that some politicians in government today do not understand that our society has changed and that we need answers to solve problems, not to solve them.” Izzeddin Elzir, the imam of Florence, told Adnkronos about the FDI bill.
“It is a bill that openly discriminates against Muslims and does not respect the Italian Constitution, which protects all citizens living in Italy. “This is unconstitutional,” said Sami Salem, the imam of the Magliana mosque in Rome.
Source: Today IT
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
