Islam in Italy: Dynamics of Community Development and Contemporary Challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/jia.v24i1.1331Keywords:
Islam in Italy, Muslim Community, Challenges, Interreligious Dialogue, Integration and Identity.Abstract
This study seeks to examine the development of the Muslim community in Italy and the challenges it faces in preserving its Islamic identity while engaging actively with members of Italian society. It aims to explore the arrival of Islam in Italy and its growth through the establishment of mosques, cultural centers, educational initiatives and institutions, and community organizations that support Muslims’ identity, social integration, and interreligious dialogue and cooperation. The research is important as it investigates how Islam and Muslims have gradually become part of Italy’s society, emphasizing the realities of migration, cultural diversity, and community interactions in contemporary Europe. The historical, descriptive, and analytical methods are adopted to explore the arrival of Islam in Italy and to address the issues of legal recognition, Islamophobia, media representation, and identity rights among younger generations born and raised in Italy as key contemporary challenges faced by Muslims in the country. The paper focuses its discussion on: a) Historical background of Islam in Italy, b) Contemporary presence of Islam in Italy, c) Muslim Organization in Italy, d) Italian Muslim population, e) Challenges of Italian Muslim population, and f) Solutions. The study concludes that, despite the social, economic, and administrative challenges, Italian Muslims continue to adapt, grow, and contribute effectively to Italian society. Also, the article offers new insights through discussions on minority experiences and social integration by examining the historical, sociological, and religious experiences of Muslims in Italy.
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