In a recent statement at a political festival organized by her far-right party, the Brothers of Italy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced concerns about the compatibility between European civilization and Islamic culture, particularly highlighting funding sources for Islamic cultural centers in Italy.
Meloni pointed out the financial backing from Saudi Arabia for most of Italy’s Islamic cultural centers, expressing worry over the stark differences in values. In a video address, she emphasized, “There is a problem of compatibility between Islamic culture or a certain interpretation of Islamic culture and the rights and values of our civilization.”
She further highlighted the Sharia law applied in Saudi Arabia, including punishments such as lapidation for adultery, death penalty for apostasy, and death penalty for homosexuality. While acknowledging the need to address these issues, Meloni clarified that it does not imply generalizing about Islam but rather raising concerns about a process of Islamization in Europe that diverges from the values of Western civilization.
Meloni affirmed Italy’s stance, stating unequivocally that Sharia law would not be allowed to be implemented in the country. The statement comes amidst a political event attended by other prominent leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and entrepreneur Elon Musk.
In a related context, Sunak warned of deliberate attempts by some “enemies” to drive people to shores, destabilizing societies. Both leaders advocated for global reforms to the asylum system to address the challenges posed by the increasing number of refugees.
