Italy

Italy’s constitutional court overturns Anti-mosque law

The difficult conditions for the building of mosques in the Northern Italian Region of Lombardy, are unlawful. In the opinion of the judges, they disagree in Italy applicable to freedom of religion.

The background was a dispute over the planned construction of three mosques under the non-party, leftist Milan mayor Giuliano Pisapia. The Lega Nord has been imprisoned against the project and expressed the fear that in the Islamic centers could be of a fundamentalist Propaganda.

Saw the national government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi different: they complained after the decision of the places of worship act, in the Lombardy region in front of the constitutional court – with success.

Islamgemeinden about judgment satisfied

Roberto Maroni, head of the right-wing party “Lega Nord”, the law, in the Region of Lombardy passed had commented on the decision on Twitter with the words: “The Left rejoices: Allahu akbar.” The Association of Islamgemeinden in Milan, Monza and Brianza expressed, according to Italian media, however, “great satisfaction” about the verdict. Was needed, now a national law for cult buildings of similar incidents to prevent said Verbandssprecher Davide Piccardo.

The in January 2015 from the regional Parliament in Milan with the votes of the centre-right Alliance, for the law made numerous provisions for the construction of religious cult buildings. Among other things, should the authorities check whether the building into the cityscape passe; law were also video surveillance systems that are directly associated with the police had to be. Before a building permit saw the law the survey of the local community. In addition, had the applicant religious communities through an agreement with the state; this is in case of Muslim communities in Italy is not the case.

hfd/rb (kna)