For centuries, different influences
have visually shaped the southern Italian city of Naples and its
social fabric, making it very open to contaminations and prone to
hospitality. Specifically, thanks to its geographical position and
its University called “L’Orientale”, Naples has always been
a favorite place for Muslims coming from the other shores of the
Mediterranean. More: the strong Islamic presence favored, in the last
decades, a remarkable growth of the conversions among locals. This
trend became so important that one of the major mosques in town is
now run by two Italians: the Imam Agostino Yasin Gentile and its
president Massimo Abdullah Cozzolino.
The mosque is the one
in Piazza del Mercato: today a landmark for the spreading of the
Islamic culture and a first aid and care centre for migrants.
Although in the past it has been involved in anti-terrorism
investigations.
[ONGOING PROJECT]
