Someone paints it as a historic day. And in some ways it is. After the brutal murder of Father Jacques Hamel, slaughtered by two Islamic terrorists in the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy, the largest Muslim associations have accepted the invitation to go to Mass in solidarity with the Catholics.
From Milan to Rome, from Turin to Palermo, there was no lack of initiatives. Imams and common Muslims prayed together with the Catholic community in front of the flashing cameras and the lens of the cameramen. “We are very grateful for this prompt reply, timely and clear – said the president of the CEI, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco – if they continue on this path we can create a real isolation around those murderous fanatics.” Unfortunately, though, praying is not enough if the Islamic community does not begin to denounce the fanatics and to refuse donations coming from questionable associations.
“Thanks to all those Italian muslims who indicate to their community the way of the courage against fundamentalism.” On Twitter the Foreign Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, welcomes the common prayer of Catholics and Muslims. An act of brotherhood that started in a France torn by Islamic extremism and that immediately “affected” Italy. It was, in fact, the CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference) to join the initiative calling it “a great gesture” able to overcome the bloodthirsty murder of father Jacques”.
The risk, though, is that this enthusiasm run out in just one day of prayer organized specifically for the media and public opinion. Until now, in fact, Muslim communities have never helped in exposing the extremists and have never stigmatized them. It did not happen, for example, with Adel Kermiche who, getting out the mosque, announced to family members he would attack a church and nobody did stop him. To defeat Islamic terrorism, therefore, it’s not enough to reject it. Practical gestures are required too. First of all, denouncing terror suspects and breaking those doctrines of Islam followed by ISIS terrorists. But also giving up suspicious donations.
In the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere Mohammed ben Mohammed, Imam of the Mosque of Via dei Frassini at Centocelle and representative of the UCOII (Union of the Islamic Communities of Italy), Sami Salem, Imam of the Magliana prayer room, and Mohammed Hassan Abdelghaffar, Imam of the prayer room of Via Candia, have led the delegation during the Mass. “In Church we are at home,” they said. “We came here to say to our Christian brothers and sisters that we are brothers. Terrorism is the enemy of all of us – have continued the Imams – it is important to show our unity. Terrorism is a global danger and we must unite to tackle it. If terrorism succeeds to divide us, it has won.”
Despite the abstention of the “Great Mosque of Rome”, many the parallel initiatives throughout Italy: Milan, Turin, Parma, Naples. In Bari, at the Cathedral of San Sabino, Muslims and Catholics prayed together reading indifferently the Bible and the Koran. In Palermo a dozen Imams attended Mass in the cathedral.
Source: Il Giornale