Italian mosques denied share in income tax revenue

Rome, Aug 28 (IANS/AKI) Mosques in Italy will not get a share of income tax revenue as per the annual allocation by the government, which has proposed a bill seeking funds for Hindu and Buddhist temples, Greek Orthodox churches and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

According to a bill approved by the cabinet in May but yet to be approved by Italian parliament, Hindu and Buddhist temples, Greek Orthodox churches and Jehovah’s Witnesses will be eligible for the funds which is allocated annually to various religious trusts.

Until now, the government had earmarked 8 percent of income tax revenue for Italy’s churches. Most of these funds go to the Catholic Church, although if they wish, individual tax payers may give the money to charities and cultural projects instead.

The head of COREIS, one of Italy’s largest Muslim groups, Yahya Pallavicini, said he was bitter that Islam had been denied the revenue from Italian income tax.

Islam is not an established religion in Italy and there is only one official mosque in the country, Rome’s Grand Mosque.

Politicians from the ruling coalition cite radical imams, polygamy and failure to uphold women’s rights by Muslims immigrants as obstacles to recognising Islam as an official religion in Italy.

Until now, only the Catholic Church, Judaism and other established churches including Lutherans, Evangelists, Waldensians and 7th-day Adventists have received the income tax revenue from the Italian government.

There are between one million and 1.5 million Muslims in Italy and 130 mosques linked the Muslim umbrella organisation UCOII across the country.

–IANS/AKI