The Challenge of Muslim Citizenship in Europe

About 1,574,000 Muslims (3% of the Italian population) are living in Italy, the majority of which of foreign origin. They constitute 29,2% of the migrant community and only 30% are European Muslims (from Albania, Moldavia, Kosovo), whereas 52,7% are from Africa (37,8% from North Africa).[1] The renowned Egyptian journalist has strongly criticized Muslim communities living in the West, affirming that they «have become more sensitive, intolerant and inclined to violence at the first sign of friction or prejudice to what they think is a criticism of or attacking Islamic traditions» and adding that «Many brought with them many outdated traditions and backward customs, such as the demand for polygamy, which is a crime punishable by law, and the treatment of women in a way that involves an abuse of their dignity».[2] Some Muslims living in Europe, in fact, appear to conceive identity as a closed space in which to close themselves. Religious traditions have become more important than a religious experience, the form has become more important than the person, more than his mind, his heart and his conscience.