Nearly 8,000 people participated yesterday, Saturday, December 23, in the demonstration organized by the Muslim community of Monfalcone against the anti-Islam mayor. The councilor of this town in northern Italy, populated by 30,000 inhabitants – 30% of whom are immigrants working for one of the largest shipyards of the Fincantieri group – has just closed the two Islamic cultural centers which served as places of prayer. Hence this gathering to demand respect for the right to freedom of worship.
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With our correspondent in Rome, Anne Le Nir
A single banner at the opening of the procession “ We pay taxes, we speak Italian correctly and we contribute to the country’s production “. Many Muslim residents, supported by left-wing elected officials and members of Catholic associations, protested completely peacefully against the mayor of Monfalcone, Anna Maria Cisint.
A member of the Anti-Migrant League, the councilor not only closed Islamic cultural centers, officially for security reasons, but also banned Friday prayers in all public places. Clearly, the Muslims of Monfalcone, who are mainly of Bangladeshi origin, are deprived of their freedom of worship.
A right nevertheless recognized by the Italian Constitution. ” VSIt is by adopting such measures that we foment divisions and intolerance », declared the regional secretary of the Democratic Party, Caterina Conti, inviting the mayor to resume dialogue with the Muslim community. But Anna Maria Cisint replied that she would not be intimidated by the protests.