An ongoing conference focusing on the “cost of Islamophobia in Italy” has been receiving political and media attention in Rome due to the organisational links and the involvement of centre-left politicians, along with the connection of part of the Italian Muslim community with the Islamist networks.
Scheduled for September 19-20 at the Seraphicum Complex in Rome, the conference is being organised by Promus and the Islamic Community of Rome. The speakers of the conference include lawyers, academics, representatives of the Muslim community and politicians from the Italian Democratic Party (PD) and the Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra (AVS). Il Tempo has examined the background and organisational links of several speakers in a report dated September 13.
What Is the Rome Islamophobia Conference?
The conference, entitled “The Cost of Islamophobia in Italy,” was billed as an attempt at a national debate on discrimination and the status of Muslims in Italy.
Among the speakers listed for the conference were European Parliament member from the AVS party Benedetta Scuderi, PD member of parliament Ouidad Bakkali, lawyers Luca Bauccio and Fabio Anselmo, and members of the Italian Muslim community such as Nibras Breigheche and Sabrine Hammadi. As per Il Tempo, the conference is being organised by Promus in collaboration with the Islamic Community of Rome.
The conference, its organisers and speakers were also independently listed in a September 10 list of Volontariato Lazio.
What Does Il Tempo Say about UCOII and Muslim Organisations?
A key part of the Il Tempo report relates to the Union of Islamic Communities and Organisations in Italy, UCOII, and its relations with other Muslim organisations.
Il Tempo talks of certain organisations and individuals in the Italian Muslim community operating in an environment that had been connected to the Muslim Brotherhood by researchers or politicians.
This requires careful clarification. Association with, working with, and being considered near a certain organization is not proof, in and of itself, of being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood or participation in illegal acts. This is how Il Tempo discusses these associations – in terms of reported connections.
What about Connections with Hamas and Hezbollah?
Il Tempo also makes accusations of links involving networks related to Hamas and Hezbollah. Their report refers to prior disputes involving people and organizations that have come up in the context of the wider political discussion regarding Italy’s Muslim community and pro-Palestinian activism.
Il Tempo mentions how lawyer Luca Bauccio had once represented Sulaiman Hijazi and his association with UCOII. It also mentions Mohammad Hannoun, who has faced investigations by the Italian prosecutor’s office regarding support for Hamas. They are different allegations and legal matters involving different individuals, and should not be considered as proof that those participating in the conference supported Hamas or Hezbollah.
Also part of the wider political background are the demonstrations held on September 9 at Italy’s parliament where Il Tempo reports that Hamas and Hezbollah flags were seen.
Reasons for the Sensitive Political Nature of the Event
The controversy is part of the broader discussion of Islamophobia and representation of Muslims in Italy, as well as their involvement in politics versus advocacy of their interests in terms of discrimination.
In the case of those who support the conference, the main issue is discrimination against Muslims in Italy. In turn, opponents of the conference, such as Il Tempo, concentrate on the backgrounds of some of the participants of the conference and organisations.
These two interpretations should be separated from the proven fact of the organisation of the conference in Rome.
Conclusion
Thus, the event in Rome is a politically sensitive issue due to its focus on Islamophobia, the participation in the conference of members of the PD and AVS, and the claims made by Il Tempo about some individuals and organisations from the Muslim community in Italy.
In turn, the conference in question is independently verified, while the claims about connections with the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, or Hezbollah refer to specific people and organisations.
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