Abstract
Chapter 4 describes how Islamic associations in Rome compete to provide cultural, religious, and social services. They compete to become the most relevant national Islamic association consulted by the Italian state. While this competition does not hinder partial cooperation on welfare projects, the network is polarised among organisations affiliated with the Saudi Arabian mosque and others affiliated with other national Islamic federations. Moreover, Bangladeshi Islamic associations play a role in the Islamic network by providing welfare services in the suburbs of Rome. In general, Islamic associations in Rome respond to the social needs of immigrants by cooperating with other Catholic and non-Catholic civil-society actors that are involved in the same activities.
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Notes
- 1.
A municipio is a sub-municipal unit, the main administrative subdivision of Rome. The city was divided into 20 sub-municipalities (municipi) in 1972. In 2013, the number of municipi was reduced to 15.
- 2.
In the Italian case, the recognition is a necessary condition for state financial support.
- 3.
See Comune di Roma. 2004. ‘Elezioni Consiglieri Aggiunti.’ www.elezioni.comune.roma.it. Available at: http://www.elezioni.comune.roma.it/elezioni/2004/ConsiglieriAggiunti/ListeComune.aspx?MUN=1. (21.02.2017).
- 4.
See Istituto nazionale di statistica. 2016. Available at: http://demo.istat.it. (21.02.2017).
- 5.
Moreover, to reunite parents and children, immigrants have to demonstrate that there are no other children in the country of origin who are able to economically support the immigrants. See Association for Legal Studies on Immigration—ASGI. 2017. ‘Tematiche/ingresso/soggiorno’. www.asgi.it. Available at: http://www.asgi.it/tematica/ingresso-soggiorno/. (21.02.2017).
- 6.
See Association for Legal Studies on Immigration—ASGI. 2017. ‘Tematiche/ingresso/soggiorno’. www.asgi.it. Available at: http://www.asgi.it/tematica/ingresso-soggiorno/. (21.02.2017).
- 7.
See Association for Legal Studies on Immigration—ASGI. 2017. ‘Tematiche/ingresso/soggiorno’. www.asgi.it. Available at: http://www.asgi.it/tematica/ingresso-soggiorno/. (21.02.2017).
- 8.
Wahhabism is the official rigorist interpretation of Islam that originated in Saudi Arabia. When the Saudi emirate emerged in the eighteenth century, the tribal leader Muhammad ibn Sa‘ūd and the preacher Muhammad ibn Adb al-Wahhab unified their forces to set the basis for the actual Saudi kingdom (Al-Rasheed 2010).
- 9.
From 1 m2 to 100 m2, each association has one representative; from 100 m2 to 200 m2, two representatives; from 200 m2 to 500 m2, three representatives; and organisations with more than 500 m2 have four representatives (Bombardieri 2011).
- 10.
This is a foundation that manages the Islamic buildings and belongings of the UCOII in Italy. It was founded in 1989 in Ancona.
- 11.
The Italian state assesses religious freedom in art. 3, 7, 8, 19, and 20 of the Constitution but acknowledges the Catholic Church as the national religion in art. 7. The relationship between the state and the Catholic Church is regulated by the Patti Lateranensi agreement of 1929 and its 1984 revision, which affirmed the principle of a secular state and state support for religious communities (Law no. 121 of 25 March 1985).
- 12.
In 1998, proposals by the UCOII, AMI, and CICI all failed (Bombardieri 2011).
- 13.
However, municipalities and regions can also provide financial help to build mosques and Islamic cultural centres for the Islamic organisations that do not profit from direct state financing.
- 14.
See the article of Immigrazione.biz. 12.07.2007. ‘Immigrati, conclusi a Roma i primi corsi nelle moschee’. /www.immigrazione.biz. Available at: http://www.immigrazione.biz/stampaarticolo.php?id=743. (22.02.2017).
- 15.
The Al-Huda Mosque distributes 150 hot meals during the week and 250 per weekend.
- 16.
This area and the nearby suburbs became famous as the setting of Pasolini’s romances.
- 17.
See the Chap. 5 on Geneva.
- 18.
See details in www.iltempo.it. 2015. ‘Le moschee della Capitale: “I profughi non li vogliamo”’. www.iltempo.it. Available at: http://www.iltempo.it/cronache/2015/06/15/gallery/le-moschee-della-capitale-i-profughi-non-li-vogliamo-979612/. (21.02.2017).
- 19.
See the interview of Nure Alam Siddique Bachcu outlining the social role of prayer rooms. 07.10.2016. ‘Preghiera in strada dei musulmani contro la chiusura delle moschee’. www.corriere.it. Available at: http://video.corriere.it/preghiera-strada-musulmani-contro-chiusura-moschee/abe06a84-8c9c-11e6-9946-db55f98b858a. (21.02.2017).
- 20.
See the article of Nozzoli Ginevra. 26.09.2016. ‘Musulmani a Centocelle: “Non siamo in regola, ma dateci luoghi dove pregare”’. www.romatoday.it. Available at: http://centocelle.romatoday.it/centocelle/moschee-chiusure-preghiera-protesta-centocelle.html. (22.02.2017).
- 21.
See public statement of Association Dhuumcatu. 16.09.2016. ‘Chiudiamo Sala Preghiere dei Musulmani: 5° Municipio’. http://assodhuumcatu.blogspot.ch. Available at: http://assodhuumcatu.blogspot.ch/2016/09/chiudiamo-sala-preghiere-dei-musulmani.html?m=1. (22.02.2017).
- 22.
See video of pietro1978. 23.09.2016. ‘Manifestazione islam Piazza dei Mirti a Roma’. www.youreport.it. Available at: http://www.youreporter.it/video_Manifestazione_islam_Piazza_dei_Mirti_a_Roma?refresh_ce-cp. (22.02.2017).
- 23.
See photos of Granati Simona. 30.09.2016. ‘Islam a Roma, protesta e preghiera in piazza contro la chiusura delle Moschee’. http://simonagranati.photoshelter.com. Available at: http://simonagranati.photoshelter.com/gallery/Islam-a-Roma-protesta-e-preghiera-in-piazza-contro-la-chiusura-delle-Moschee/G0000TVnXs_q.WSo/. (22.02.2017).
- 24.
See photos. www.corriere.it. 16.10. 2007. ‘La preghiera in strada dei musulmani contro la chiusura della moscheee di quartiere’. http://roma.corriere.it. Available at: http://roma.corriere.it/foto-gallery/cronaca/16_ottobre_07/preghiera-strada-musulmani-contro-chiusura-moscheee-quartiere-ee91e42c-8c95-11e6-9946-db55f98b858a.shtml. (22.02.2017).
- 25.
See the article of Rizzo Manuela. 22.10.2016. ‘Islamici di Roma protestano davanti al Colosseo contro la chiusura delle moschee: “Non siamo tutti terroristi’”. https://www.newsitaliane.it. Available at: https://www.newsitaliane.it/2016/islamici-roma-protestano-davanti-al-colosseo-la-chiusura-delle-moschee-non-tutti-terroristi-84033. (22.02.2017).
- 26.
See the article of Nozzoli Ginevra. 04.11.2016. ‘Chiusa un’altra moschea abusiva, l’11 novembre ancora una preghiera in piazza’. www.romatoday.it. Available at: http://www.romatoday.it/politica/preghiera-islam-11-novembre-2016-battistini.html. (22.02.2017).
- 27.
See the article of Polisano Mirko. 09.12.2016. ‘Ostia, sequestrano la Moschea: 70 musulmani si mettono a pregare sul pontile’. www.ilmessaggero.it. Available at: http://m.ilmessaggero.it/roma/articolo-2130967.html. (22.02.2017).
- 28.
See the article of Redazione. 10.02.2016. “Tar fa riaprire la moschea: la preghiera per festeggiare in piazza dei Mirti”. www.romatoday.it. Available at: http://centocelle.romatoday.it/centocelle/moschea-via-gladioli-riapertura-preghiera-piazza-dei-mirti.html. (22.02.2017).
- 29.
Among them, UCOII and CICI.
- 30.
See interview of Gillio, Gian Mario. 10.02.2017. Patto per un islam italiano, intervista a Paolo Naso, in “Riforma—settimanale delle chiese evangeliche battiste metodiste e valdesi”. http://www.csa.provincia.modena.it/attachments/article/5003/Patto%20con%20islam.pdf. (27.07.2017).
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Banfi, E. (2018). Islamic Sociocultural Activism in Rome. In: Welfare Activities by New Religious Actors . Palgrave Politics of Identity and Citizenship Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62096-1_4
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