Milan mosque 'to be closed down'

Osman · **Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-08-2008

A controversial mosque in the Italian city of Milan is to be shut down, the country's right-wing government says.

The Jenner mosque attracts about 4,000 Muslims each week, with Friday prayers often spilling out on to the street.

Now, after years of complaints from local residents, Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has said he will close the mosque by August.

A leading Roman Catholic has accused Mr Maroni of behaving like a fascist. He has rejected that charge.

Rendition

The Jenner mosque is based in a converted garage.

Since it opened as an Islamic cultural centre in 1988, it has outgrown its cramped surroundings - much to the alarm of people living in the neighbourhood, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome.

It has come under the spotlight several times for alleged links to extremism.

The Muslim cleric, Abu Omar, who was known for his fiery preaching, says he was kidnapped on his way to the mosque in 2003.

He claims he was then transferred to Egypt, where he was tortured.

Twenty-six suspected CIA agents and several Italian intelligence officials are currently on trial in Milan over his alleged rendition.

Most of them are being tried in absentia.

'Nomads'

Mr Maroni, who belongs to the anti-immigrant Northern League, has said he will press ahead with plans to close the mosque, and that anybody found praying in the street will be issued with a ticket.

The local Muslim community is being offered the use of a nearby stadium, in which the Beatles once played.

However, the council has said it can only be used four times each week and that each person will be charged on entry.

The president of the mosque, Abdel Hamid Shaari, has said he is happy to pay rent but that its members "won't be treated like nomads".

"We are Milanese and we are not going to accept the solution that's being offered," he said.

Catholic support

The Catholic church has come out in support of the Muslim community.

The Roman Catholic priest in charge of inter-faith relations in Milan, Monsignor Gianfranco Bottoni, said that only a fascist or populist government would resort to such dictatorial methods as closing a mosque.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Mr Maroni said he was addressing residents' complaints that worship regularly spilled out on to the street.

He said he had faced similar criticism from the UN children's fund (Unicef), when the Italian government announced that it was fingerprinting all Roma people of gypsies.

However, he had convinced Unicef that the move would help get Roma children into mainstream schools, he said.

Source

Aaron85 · 09:37 AM

Its bad that immigrants must pay price for faults and false ideologies made by our homegrown european progresists.

root · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

Quote:

From 1995 to the present, northern Italy—with its mosques in Viale Jenner and Via Quaranta in Milan—has been an important base for Islamic militants, which have used it for: recruiting mujahideen for Afghanistan, Iraq and Chechnya; recruiting suicide bombers for the Zarqawi network in Iraq; supplying forged documents for international operations; illicit financial activities; illegal immigrant trafficking; and providing a base of support for fugitives

Source:http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/n...icleid=2369789

niler · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

The terrorists shud be punished but not all worshipers shud be inconvenienced!!

if they dont want people praying on the streets then i believe there r other alternatives to be followed rather than closing a place of worship.. for instance another storey can be built..

**aamirsaab** · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

Great, so muslims have a prayer tax. I don't know whether to laugh or to cry at the absurdity of someone having to pay to fulfil a basic requirement of one's religion. I wonder how the non-muslims would feel if Saudi Arabia started charging a ''church tax'' for Christians. Probably wouldn't go down to well...

Saudi-man:' 'Sorry, you don't have enough money to use this facility''
Random Christian: ''WHAT! Look, all I want to do is make a quick prayer -I'd do at at home normally but my house is 40 minutes away. It's just a quick prayer...''
Saudi-man: ''I don't make the rules, I just enforce them''
Random Christian: ''You jerk hole! Dang, look what you made me do. Now I have to make a confession!''
Saudi man: ''Prayer is 2 american dollar. Confession is extra. If you buy today, you can get a money off voucher for your next prayer need: 10% off - what a bargain!''

Note: I have nothing against Christians or any other religion for that matter. I am merely pointing out the absurdity of this situation and flip-reversing it towards another religious group. If you found the above insulting, I apologise.

niler · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

Quote:

Great, so muslims have a prayer tax. I don't know whether to laugh or to cry at the absurdity of someone having to pay to fulfil a basic requirement of one's religion. I wonder how the non-muslims would feel if Saudi Arabia started charging a ''church tax'' for Christians. Probably wouldn't go down to well...

Saudi-man:' 'Sorry, you don't have enough money to use this facility''
Random Christian: ''WHAT! Look, all I want to do is make a quick prayer -I'd do at at home normally but my house is 40 minutes away. It's just a quick prayer...''
Saudi-man: ''I don't make the rules, I just enforce them''
Random Christian: ''You jerk hole! Dang, look what you made me do. Now I have to make a confession!''
Saudi man: ''Prayer is 2 american dollar. Confession is extra. If you buy today, you can get a money off voucher for your next prayer need: 10% off - what a bargain!''

Well put Brother!!! cudnt hav said it better meself!!!

Al-Zaara · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

If people are angry that Muslims are in the streets praying during the Friday prayers because of lack of space, rather give them more space than closing it all down and thus making so much more damage, not just for the Muslims, but the whole community.

Similiar news from Spain: Spain’s Many Muslims Face Dearth of Mosques

Quote:

As places of worship go, the crudely converted garage leaves much to be desired, said Mr. Kouitene, vice president of the Islamic Association for Union and Cooperation in Lleida, a prosperous medieval town in northeastern Spain surrounded by fruit farms that are a magnet for immigrant workers. Freezing in winter and stifling in summer, the prayer hall is so cramped that the congregation, swollen to 1,000 from 50 over the past five years, sometimes spills onto the street.

Further (quite interesting) readings about Muslims' situations in Italy:

Italy: Muslim prayer area risks closure at northern tennis club

Quote:

"Bepi Zambon, former tennis champion and owner of the exclusive Tennis Club Zambon has allocated two courts for local Muslims to worship on - one for men and the other for women."

“Mamma li Turchi!!” and the Saladin Syndrome : Part One

Quote:

"To be a Muslim and live in Italy, particularly in the north of the country, politically dominated by the far-right parties Lega Nord (North League, a secessionist party) and Alleanza Nazionale (National Alliance, the bigger post-fascist party), is not just difficult, it is a nightmare."

“Mamma li Turchi!!” and the Saladin Syndrome : Part Two

Quote:

"Of course, when there is a crime, they are the first to be suspected, and I am speaking of ordinary crimes. For instance, recently, a woman was kidnapped, and the Italian mass media reported that the woman was kidnapped by an alleged ‘Moroccan gang’. In reality the kidnapping, which ended in tragedy, was very much, as usual, the work of an Italian. This was not the first time, nor will it be the last, that horrific crimes would be attributed to Muslims, generally called Marocchini."

Osman · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

I'm very pleased to hear about the Catholic community supporting the Muslim community in Italy. They're setting a great example.

Izyan · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by niler

Well put Brother!!! cudnt hav said it better meself!!!

Christians do pay a tax it's called the jiyza. Since when are there even churches in SA?

**aamirsaab** · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izyan

Christians do pay a tax it's called the jiyza. Since when are there even churches in SA?

All non-muslims in an Islamic state pay Jizya - it's the only tax they have to pay and it has nothing to do with prayer facilities. Muslims in that state are subject to the other 3 taxes: zakat, sadaqa and 'Ushra.

I believe there was a thread about a church in saudi arabia not long ago.

Ali. · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

...

What the hell.

Fishman · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-09-2008

Its not suprising, Italy invented fascism...

Whatsthepoint · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-17-2008

I'm not sure why exactly are they shutting it down, links to extremism or people praying in the streets? I don't think the second is a reason enough to close it down (and nor is the first for that matter..), ticketing street prayers and the stadium thing seem like a good idea, a new mosque would be the ultimate solution though. The question is whether the locals would like it.

Whatsthepoint · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishman

Its not suprising, Italy invented fascism...

Cow hater, shoo, shoo!

Brother_Mujahid · **Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' -** 07-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint

matter..), ticketing street prayers and the stadium thing seem like a good idea,

muslims pray 5x a day.. you think its okay to charge each time they go to the stadium which oh by the way will only be available for four days. :s they can just get thier idea print it off twist it side ways, fold it in half, scrunch it up, rip it into small pieces, set alight the little pieces and then sweep up the ashes...... before finally blowing the ashes into the wildernesh (wilderness)

quite frankly the solution offered sucks and is not practical... just refer back to amirsaabs beautiful hyperthetical situation.

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	(#1 (permalink))
Osman LI Oldskool Status: Offline Posts: 3,384 Reputation: 13885 Rep Power: 43 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Warrington, England Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Milan mosque 'to be closed down' - 07-08-2008 A controversial mosque in the Italian city of Milan is to be shut down, the country's right-wing government says. The Jenner mosque attracts about 4,000 Muslims each week, with Friday prayers often spilling out on to the street. Now, after years of complaints from local residents, Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has said he will close the mosque by August. A leading Roman Catholic has accused Mr Maroni of behaving like a fascist. He has rejected that charge. Rendition The Jenner mosque is based in a converted garage. Since it opened as an Islamic cultural centre in 1988, it has outgrown its cramped surroundings - much to the alarm of people living in the neighbourhood, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome. It has come under the spotlight several times for alleged links to extremism. The Muslim cleric, Abu Omar, who was known for his fiery preaching, says he was kidnapped on his way to the mosque in 2003. He claims he was then transferred to Egypt, where he was tortured. Twenty-six suspected CIA agents and several Italian intelligence officials are currently on trial in Milan over his alleged rendition. Most of them are being tried in absentia. 'Nomads' Mr Maroni, who belongs to the anti-immigrant Northern League, has said he will press ahead with plans to close the mosque, and that anybody found praying in the street will be issued with a ticket. The local Muslim community is being offered the use of a nearby stadium, in which the Beatles once played. However, the council has said it can only be used four times each week and that each person will be charged on entry. The president of the mosque, Abdel Hamid Shaari, has said he is happy to pay rent but that its members "won't be treated like nomads". "We are Milanese and we are not going to accept the solution that's being offered," he said. Catholic support The Catholic church has come out in support of the Muslim community. The Roman Catholic priest in charge of inter-faith relations in Milan, Monsignor Gianfranco Bottoni, said that only a fascist or populist government would resort to such dictatorial methods as closing a mosque. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Mr Maroni said he was addressing residents' complaints that worship regularly spilled out on to the street. He said he had faced similar criticism from the UN children's fund (Unicef), when the Italian government announced that it was fingerprinting all Roma people of gypsies. However, he had convinced Unicef that the move would help get Roma children into mainstream schools, he said. Source __________________ Shall I inform you of the best morals of this world and the hereafter? They are to forgive he who oppresses you, to make a bond with he who severs from you, to be kind to he who insults you, and to give to he who deprives you. ~ Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless him and grant him peace)

	(#2 (permalink))
Aaron85 LI Oldskool Status: Offline Posts: 1,461 Reputation: 2336 Rep Power: 12 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: From Mars...To Sirius. Gender: Way of Life: Christian	Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' - 07-08-2008 Its bad that immigrants must pay price for faults and false ideologies made by our homegrown european progresists. __________________ Right from the beginning. Last edited by LI-Staff; 07-09-2008 at 09:37 AM. Reason: offtopic content removed

	(#4 (permalink))
niler LI Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 133 Reputation: 137 Rep Power: 6 Join Date: Sep 2007 Way of Life: Undisclosed	Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' - 07-09-2008 The terrorists shud be punished but not all worshipers shud be inconvenienced!! if they dont want people praying on the streets then i believe there r other alternatives to be followed rather than closing a place of worship.. for instance another storey can be built..

	(#8 (permalink))
Osman LI Oldskool Status: Offline Posts: 3,384 Reputation: 13885 Rep Power: 43 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Warrington, England Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' - 07-09-2008 I'm very pleased to hear about the Catholic community supporting the Muslim community in Italy. They're setting a great example. __________________ Shall I inform you of the best morals of this world and the hereafter? They are to forgive he who oppresses you, to make a bond with he who severs from you, to be kind to he who insults you, and to give to he who deprives you. ~ Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless him and grant him peace)

	(#11 (permalink))
Ali. اللهُ أكبر Status: Offline Posts: 910 Reputation: 5759 Rep Power: 13 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Abroad Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' - 07-09-2008 ... What the hell. __________________

	(#12 (permalink))
Fishman Conqueror Status: Offline Posts: 3,203 Reputation: 12113 Rep Power: 32 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Airstrip One Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' - 07-09-2008 Its not suprising, Italy invented fascism... __________________ BAN COWS NOW! THE LAST SURVIVING USERPAGE!!!

	(#13 (permalink))
Whatsthepoint Agnostic revert Status: Offline Posts: 1,893 Reputation: 5369 Rep Power: 13 Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Way of Life: Agnostic	Re: Milan mosque 'to be closed down' - 07-17-2008 I'm not sure why exactly are they shutting it down, links to extremism or people praying in the streets? I don't think the second is a reason enough to close it down (and nor is the first for that matter..), ticketing street prayers and the stadium thing seem like a good idea, a new mosque would be the ultimate solution though. The question is whether the locals would like it.