In Italy, views on the place and role of Islam are as stereotyped
as in the rest of Europe. The Catholic Church is still acting as the guardian of
national memory, as well as public ethics and values that are widely held in
Italy. However, with the expansion of religious pluralism resulting from
migration flows since the 1970s, the Catholic Church faced the fear of losing its
monopoly on national religious space.
Despite the mediation efforts of civil society and multiple initiatives
focusing on interreligious dialogue, Islam has no legal standing in Italy. As a
result, due to the complex relationship between state and religion, Muslim
immigrants lack true recognition in the Italian society.
Italy; Sicily; Vatican; Arabs; Islam; Catholicism; Lega Nord; legal status of Islam; migrants; Islamophobia.