In Bergamo makes an “Anti-mosques”-the law of the right-wing Lega the creation of non-Catholic houses of worship virtually impossible. Now, the Association of the Muslims purchased a vacant Church in the city and makes for a lot of Trouble.
The sale of the Catholic Church has caused in the Northern Italian city of a small religious conflict instigated by the right-wing Lega. The dispute began in October, when a health authority rubbed the former hospital chapel to auction exclusive.
The seller is assumed that the local Romanian Orthodox community would secure the building. They used the Church for three years as a loan. “When we moved in August 2015 here, it was said, ‘do not worry, in the future you will be able to the Church, right to buy,'” said priest Gheorghe Velescu, the news Agency DPA.
“Invasion of the Muslims”
But not everything went according to Plan: at The last Moment, the Association of Muslims in Bergamo, the Romanian Orthodox Church snapped up the building for around 450’000 euros in front of the nose. The sale is not shocked, only the Romanians. The idea of the small Catholic Church in the city on the edge of the Alps could be converted in to a mosque, was considered by critics as evidence of a Muslim “Invasion”.
Italy has had for decades a country of Emigration. The growing number of migrants who have come more recently from Muslim countries to Italy, has led to tensions in the population and the right-wing Lega good election results brought. Northern League head Matteo Salvini was the Minister of the interior and Vice-Prime Minister in Rome.
Currently living in Italy, more than 5.1 million legal, reported foreign citizen – a 27 percent increase since 2012. Their share in the total population is around 8.5 percent. In addition, thousands of migrants without papers, life in Italy, a hundred.
Region wants the mosque to prevent
“God throws Jesus”, was the headline in the rights of a Boulevard newspaper “Libero” to the Church auction. Your editor Vittorio Feltri hails from Bergamo. “The temple was to beat the haters of the West,” wrote Feltri in an editorial.
The Lombard President Attilio Fontana, the Lega has promised to do the auction again reversed, so that the Orthodox believers are able to use the Church more. Fontana estimated that the Region could make use of its right of first refusal.
“The Church of the brothers of Bergamo, a Symbol of Christianity, is to be preserved,” said Fontana in a statement at the end of October. He had this secures pastor Velescu on the telephone.
The center-left-oriented mayor of Bergamo, Giorgio Gori, considers Fontana’s proposal is at best doubtful, and of anti-Muslim prejudice dominated. “You don’t want to make the sale only to undo because you, the buyer,” says Gori of the DPA.
“a Clear Form of discrimination”
“If the Romanian had won the Orthodox, there would have been no Problem,” says the former TV Manager in the media Empire of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. “I think it is a very clear Form of discrimination against Muslims.”
Nevertheless, he understood the public anger over the outcome of the auction. Because the Church had sentimental value to the inhabitants of the Lombard city. There, they had baptized their newborn babies or for the sick are prayed for, which were treated in the hospital.
Previously, had referred to Gori, the Situation as “sensational Eigengoal” for a regional “Anti-mosques”-the law that restricts the opening of new non-Catholic houses of worship. The law had been brought by the Lega on the way.
The establishment of new mosques is as good as impossible, unless you are in a place that is already recognized as a house of worship, such as the former hospital chapel, says Gori.
As this was offered for sale, it was an opportunity for the Muslims. “As long as we don’t make each an adequate place to Pray, we will always have such problems,” says Gori.
Noisy prayer
The Association of Muslims did not want to comment on the request of the DPA to the thing. The local “Bergamo News,” said Association spokesman Joussef Ait Abboudel but, his Church search “more autonomy, stability and Dignity”. Around 400 Muslims gather currently in a former warehouse for carpenters, joiners required, under a road bridge to the regular prayer.
In the month of Ramadan, there are up to 2000 people. “When we pray, wiggles car the whole room because of the load, the drive on us,” complains the speaker. But pastor Velescu, the municipality threatened with expulsion, has little sympathy with the Muslims. “With all due respect, because they are also human beings like us – is a Church. I would never buy a mosque and in a Church transform. From a brotherly point of view, you should never participate in the auction,” he says. (nlu/sda)
Created: 16.12.2018, 13:46 PM
