ISLAM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

286 Dear.... I enclose what I think about the creation of a mosque in Milan along with the re- commendations sent to parliamentarians in 2011, the first in priority is: 1 - funding from sources or states that discriminate against non-Muslims must be refused. 2 - I favor a project open to all the citizens, not only for the adherents of the propo- nent, who represents only a part of the Muslim faithful. 3 - The mosque should be accessible to all the components of Islam, none excluded. 4 - The Management Body of the mosque should include one or more representa- tives of the Municipality of Milan in the Management Council and the minutes accessible 5 - the preachers must be "certified" and fluent of the national language and our culture. Mosques, minarets or religious centers? ideals are promoted by example. The mo- sque is a political, social and religious cen- tre not only a religious centre in the sense that Italians interpret it. In fact, I propose to facilitate the creation of prayer rooms in neighborhoods that most need them together with the involvement of local mu- nicipalities with a representative in the ma- nagement councils of these spaces; that is another question to be explored. A social political objective would be to cut the umbilical cord that binds the Mu- slim citizen whom I respect as a man and Islam as a political system; it is up to us to develop a strategy for the integration of Muslim citizens, to constantly monitor the establishment of cultural centers that are often emanations of foreign sponsors. A long-term policy of the European Union could envisage combining economic de- velopment and the exchange of techno- logy with human rights in Arab countries. Not ONE mosque in Milan but as many as there are real necessities. I fully agree that the Municipality, in exchange for the concession of the land, has the right of representation in the go- verning body which will be responsible for the administration of the religious institu- tion and its buildings. In fact, I propose to facilitate the creation of prayer rooms in the neighborhoods and local districts that most need them with the involvement of local municipalities that could thus have a representative on the management bo- ards of these spaces; another aspect to be explored. Allow me to draw your attention to some of the drawbacks for offering a unique place in Milan for Friday prayers, instead of encouraging the creation of prayer ro- oms in the neighborhoods that need them most. It would avoid the free or "incenti- vized" movement of people from one part of the city to another, thus taking away time from work. The "issues" I see are, by way of example: 1. The management of the space would be given to the exponents of Viale Jen- ner, therefore to the UCOI precisely those who have not adhered to the va- lues of our constitution. 2. the UCOI would be favored as a repre- sentative of the Muslims, to become the mouthpiece of requests to politically favor the introduction of "exceptions" to the laws of the state; defining some exceptions proposed by the UCOI for the Muslims would open the way to pri- vileges and discrimination to the detri- ment of other non-Muslim citizens and would give recognition to only a part of the Muslim representation in Italy; the example of the UK should teach us this. 3. It is not granted that Muslims "not from mosques" are happy with exceptions or privileges that would be negotiated with an official interlocutor. This excludes