Rome, Oct 23, 2016 – The Vatican City Rome on Friday played host to angry Muslims, who stormed the colosseum, protesting the decision of the authority to shut down mosques in the city.
The Roman government had closed down five makeshift mosques for fear that some young worshippers were being radicalised.
But Muslims in Rome see the development as nothing but a crackdown on Islam.
Few months ago, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said that “mini-mosques in garages” should not be allowed to operate in the country.
Hundreds of Muslims attended Friday prayers last week outside the iconic Colosseum in Rome to demonstrate against the closure.
During the protest prayer, organised by Bangladeshi group, Dhuumcatu, worshippers knelt on mats metres away from the ancient amphitheatre, chanting “Allah Akbar” while they knelt on the ground facing the Colosseum.
Francesco Tieri, a convert to Islam who acts as a coordinator for a number of Islamic groups, condemned the decision of the authority to shut the mosques.
“We feel people are pointing the finger at us. We are a peaceful community. We are forced to rent places to pray – which for us is like breathing air. If we can’t do it, we die,” he said.
But Barbara Saltamartini, from the anti-immigration Northern League party, labelled Friday’s demonstration as unacceptable and an act of provocation” that should never have been allowed to take place.
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