Representatives of Italian Muslims met government officials in Rome on Wednesday for the first session of the country's newly-founded Islamic Council. The Council's first meeting had been expected to deal exclusively with practical social questions connected with the integration of Italy's Muslims.
But amid the current global tension over controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in the European press, the impact of the highly sensitive affair in Italy was also expected to be discussed.
The 16-member Islamic Council was set up last November with the objective of advising the Italian government on Islam-related affairs and to form a bridge to the country's growing Muslim population.
It was largely the work of Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu, who argued that the country needed a channel for dialogue with what is now Italy's second religion. The oranisation would also be the government's "natural ally" in the fight against extremism and international terrorism, he said when the body was presented. Among the questions likely to be on the agenda are spiritual assistance for Muslims in hospitals, Islamic burial areas in cemeteries and protection for the rights of Muslim workers.
Italy, with a population of 57 million, is home to an estimated 1 million officially registered Muslims. Most live in big cities like Milan, which has several mosques and a big cultural centre.
Some 35% of the immigrants who arrive in Italy are now believed to be Muslims.
The Islamic Council members include representatives of the most important Islamic associations in Italy, along with imams, journalists and writers. Half of them have Italian citizenship and they have all taken strong stances against terrorism.
