Christians

Report: Jesus statue covered during Eid festival in Italy, drawing backlash In Monfalcone, Italy, tensions rose following an incident at the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Marcelliana.

(Jerusalem Post) In Monfalcone, Italy, tensions rose following an incident at the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Marcelliana. According to Il Tempo, the sanctuary hosted approximately four thousand Muslims celebrating the Eid-Al-Adha festival. During the event, the statue of Jesus Christ was […]

Academics & Education

‘Pointless provocation’: Muslim prayer taught to Catholic pupils in Italian mosque Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini described the scene as an example of the 'silent Islamization of Italian schools.'

(European Conservative) A group of Catholic preschoolers kneeling in a mosque during a school trip has sparked a political uproar in Italy, with critics decrying the episode as a case of religious indoctrination and cultural surrender — reigniting fierce debate over the […]

Christians

Ramadan iftar sparks controversy across Europe An interfaith iftar event in Brussels sparked controversy, with some critics accusing it of turning Catholic spaces into areas outside their intended purpose.

(Yabiladi) “Iftar at the church.” A single meal was enough to ignite the latest episode in the ongoing series of Ramadan controversies, adding fuel to the broader debates surrounding Islam in Europe. On March 23, the Brussels district of Molenbeek hosted a […]

Government & Politics

Italian court acquits Matteo Salvini in migrant ‘kidnapping’ case The far-right former interior minister prevented more than 140 migrants, including kids, from coming ashore in Italy.

(Politico) Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini was acquitted Friday on kidnapping charges over his decision in 2019 to block a migrant rescue ship carrying more than 140 people from coming ashore in Italy. Salvini, who was serving as Italy’s interior minister […]

Burkini

‘Burkini’ row erupts in Italy after mayor criticises Muslim beachgoers The mayor of a northern Italian town has sparked outrage by warning 'Muslim foreigners' to stop swimming 'with their clothes on' when visiting Italian beaches.

(Local) Italy is known for having some of Europe’s stricter rules on covering up in public, with regular reports of outrage over nudity and revealing swimwear. But on Wednesday, one politician from the nationalist League party in northern Italy sparked controversy by […]

Crime

Sicily judge weighs trial of migrant rescue NGOs

(AFP) Charities running migrant rescue ships in the Mediterranean faced a pre-trial hearing in Sicily Saturday over alleged collusion with people traffickers after a controversial probe that involved mass wiretapping. Twenty-one suspects, including crew members of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Save the […]