| Recognition of Italy's Muslim community discussed |
| Thursday, 19 May 2005 00:00 | |||
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The World Muslim League's secretary general, Abdallah bin Abel Mohsen al-Turki, has said that he is willing to discuss with the Italian State "any accord" which would contribute to the official recognition of the Muslim community in Italy. Islam is the second largest followed religion in Italy with 1.5 million followers in the predominantly Roman Catholic country. The Saudi religious head met with representatives of the Italian State, including Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu, in addition to representatives from the local Muslim community. Some of the topics discussed at the meetings included the creation of a school for Imams, and the base for a future accord between the Centre of Islamic Culture in Italy - the institution managing Rome's main mosque - and the Italian State. Speaking to the press, al-Turki said the main purpose of his visit to Italy was to attend the meeting for the administrative council of the Centre of Islamic Culture in Italy. He added that a new meeting of the administrative council of the Islamic centre had been scheduled for September when new projects will be discussed. Al-Turki said the World Muslim League is planning a new role for Italy's Islamic Centre, which will go beyond the current activities. Saying it believes in "a cultural centre that involves Muslims and non-Muslims alike" to support inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogues, al Turki explained. He added that the September meeting will also be looking at the possibility to include 30 - 40 new members from Italy's Muslim community.
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