Muslims in Italy

According to unofficial statistics, 1,150,000 Muslim immigrants have residence permits in Italy, and about 5,00,000 Muslims also live there illegally. Besides, the number of Italians who have converted to the sacred religion of Islam is approximately 40,000.
The most important Islamic Societies and Organizations existing in Italy are as follows:
1. The Union of Islamic Organization and Societies: This Union was established in the year 1990. It covers around 117 Islamic centers and societies existing in Italy. Moreover, 350 prayer-rooms that exist in Italy are connected with this Union.
It should be mentioned that in the year 1984, the number of Muslim prayer-rooms didn't exceed 12. This Union has also taken measures to prepare the draft of a contract with the Italian government to recognize the Muslim society in Italy.
2. The Cultural and Islamic Center of Italy: the representatives of the Islamic countries’ embassies established This Center in 1996. It has been the originator of the creation of Rome's great mosque. This mosque which is accounted as the greatest mosque in Europe was inaugurated in 1995, and the cost of its construction amounted to 100,000,000,000 liras; the government of Saudi Arabia provided most of which.
3. The World-Islamic Union of Italy: This Organ is in reality regarded as the Italian network of the "Rabetat al-Islami Formation". It was established in 1997, and its seat is the great mosque of Rome.
Omar Kamility, a Muslim of Italian origin, who is one of the authorities of `Rabetat al-Islami' in an interview conducted by "Onireh Newspaper" stated:
"The aim of establishing `Rabetat al-Islami' is to propagate the real Islam, that is, the moderate and peaceful Islam, as well as supporting all the Muslims of the world."
Mario Shalayeh, the ex-ambassador of Italy in Saudi Arabia, who embraced Islam in 1987 and at present is the assistant of the Italian network of the `Rabetat al-Islami' Formation also said in an interview:
"This network possesses the most developed communications, and it has been established with the aim of informing and helping Muslims, especially teaching them how to converse with Italian institutes and mass media, and if problems arise between the community of Muslims and the local authorities in Italy, this network tries to solve them. For example, differences between the Muslim community in Varese and the municipality had arisen and the municipality had commanded the closedown of their mosque. But with the efforts of this network, these differences were settled peacefully.
Mario Shalayeh also mentioned, "We are trying to register `The Islamic Council of Italy', as the representative of Muslims in Italy. He added, "the delegates of the World-Islamic Union of Italy, Islamic Organizations and Societies Union of Italy, and Religious Society and Muslim Students Union of Italy have attended the Islamic Council of Italy so far, and we hope that the delegates of the Shiite communities also join this Council.
The mentioned Council is due to negotiating with the Italian government regarding the signing of a contract for its registration and recognition. According to Italian laws, the delegates of minority groups, in negotiation with the Italian government about signing the contract, should be of Italian origin and should be Italian citizens.
The requests of the mentioned Council on behalf of Muslims from the Italian government are as follows:
-- Instructing Muslims' children in Islamic teachings in schools.
-- Appointing a religious committee for Muslim prisoners and patients to supervise the way their food is prepared.
-- Respecting Islamic rules concerning provisions in restaurants.
-- Allocating special places to Muslims for being used as cemeteries.
-- Permitting Muslims to excuse themselves from attending schools and work (Giving Muslims leave) on Islamic holidays and also in order to participate in Friday prayers and to compensate for it on other days.
4. The Cultural-Islamic (Institute) of Milan:
It is well known that this Institute is the representative of the radical wing of Islam and Islamic fundamentalists. Tens of Islamic centers are connected with this Institute.
5. The Islamic-Religious Society of Italy:
Most members of this formation (who have embraced Islam) are of Italian extraction. It is said most of its members have mystical tendencies. The spiritual leader of this society is Sheikh Abdul-Wahid Palavichini.
6. The International Human Invitation Group.
7. The Islamic Relief Association
The above two humanitarian associations which have been inspired by Islam are mainly active in the fields of providing relief for refugees, especially for the people of Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina and for the needy and supporting development plans in the poor countries of the world.
The Dispersion of Islamic Centers in Italy
According to published statistics, Islamic Centers and Associations active in Italy are 117 in number and the Islamic Organizations and Societies Union covers 85% of them.