Mosques in Italy on the rise

ROME, Aug 2 (KUNA) -- Worshipping places for Muslims in Italy have increased in the last seven years at a time the North Alliance requested their closure, a security report showed Thursday.
The report over the security policy, sent by the Italian intelligence, said the number of mosques and Islamic Soceities increased from 696 by end of 2006 to 735 in May of this year. They were 351 in 2000, noted the report.
The mosques are mostly focused in the northern provinces, said the report.
It noted that 119 worshipping places were located in Lombardia, 104 in Veneto and 94 in Emilia Romagna.
Although there were some attempts to transform into jihadism, said the report, most of the Muslims in Italy were moderate and were respecting the laws, and open to dialogue.
The far-right Northern Alliance called for closure of the mosques in Italy.
Deputy Speaker of the Italian Senate Roberto Calderoli, a leader in the Northern Alliance, called for closure of all worshipping places of Muslims unless the security authorities confirm they were not a threat to national security. (end) mn.bs KUNA 022240 Aug 07NNNN