ROME – An Italian official is proposing to add crucifix to the national flag to preserve the country's "Christian identity" against Islam, just two days after Switzerland banned the construction of mosque minarets.
"Unfortunately, we are facing a strong attack on our identity by an intolerant religion like Islam," Roberto Castelli, deputy minister for infrastructure and transportation, was quoted as saying by AKI news agency on Tuesday, December 1.
Castelli, a member of the right-wing Northern League, wants a cross added to Italy's tricolour flag.
"I hope that the party to which I am honoured to belong puts forth my proposal."
The green in the tricolour flag represents Italy's plains and hills, the white its snow-capped Alps and the red the blood spilt in the wars of independence.
The Northern League is widely accused of racism with many critics calling it the BNP of Italy, a reference to the British right-wing party.
Portraying itself as a defender of Italy's Christian roots, it started its mission in the new government in May 2008 with bringing down a mosque in the northern city of Verona.
Last year, the League rejoiced the success of its campaign to halt the building of a mosque in the northern city of Bologna.
Castelli's proposal came two days after Swiss voters backed a blanket ban on the building of new minarets in the European country.
The right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which spearheaded the campaign, said minarets were a symbol of Shari`ah and the Islamization of Europe.
The Swiss vote sparked calls from right-wing parties in Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium to hold similar referendums to ban mosque minarets.
Christian Roots
Castelli said putting the cross on the Italian flag would reaffirm its Christian identity.
"Europe has the right to safeguard its own identity, respecting other people's roots, but it is necessary to return to our roots," he argued.
"I believe that Europe has the right to recognise its true identity that we are starting to lose completely."
The proposal drew support from Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
"Nine European countries already have the crucifix on their flag, it is an extremely common proposition."
But Parliament speaker Gianfranco Fini, from Premier Silvio Berlusconi's PDL party, dismissed it as "disturbing and demagogic."
Angelo Bonelli, the leader of the Federation of the Greens party, was also critical.
"Castelli wants to put the cross in the flag? So when do we begin a crusade to liberate the holy land?"
Earlier this month, the European Court for Human Rights banned the traditional display of crucifixes in Italian schools.
The court said crucifixes violated the rights of parents to educate their children according to their convictions and the right of children to freedom of religion.
