VZCZCXRO1581
PP RUEHFL RUEHNP
DE RUEHMIL #0237/01 3550729
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 210729Z DEC 09
FM AMCONSUL MILAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1883
INFO RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 8974
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 0236
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 0231

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MILAN 000237 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2019 
TAGS: PHUM SMIG PGOV SCUL IT
SUBJECT: MUSLIM 2GS SEEK INROADS TOWARD INTEGRATION 
 
Classified By: P/E CHIEF BENJAMIN WOHLAUER FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) 
 
1.(C) Summary:  The National Conference of Second-Generation 
Muslims was held in Turin on December 1-2 focusing on those 
issues with which this growing population is most concerned, 
including: citizenship, education, employment, and the 
politics of integration.  Speakers also touched on mosque 
construction - much in the news in northern Italy and over 
the border in Switzerland.  Included among the speakers were 
international and Italian academics, leaders in civic and 
not-for-profit organizations, local government officials, and 
a few members of the Association of Young Muslims in Italy. 
While the slated content and credentials were impressive, and 
the seats full of attendees eager to talk about growth and 
change, the absence of actual plans for improvement and 
inclusion concerned those who see disenfranchisement as a 
possible precursor to extremism.  End Summary 
 
2.(SBU) The National Conference of Second-Generation Muslims, 
held in Turin on December 1-2, was organized by the Italian 
Center for Peace in the Middle East (CIPMO), a non-profit 
organization aimed at encouraging Arab, Israeli and 
Palestinian dialogue.  Financial support and patronage for 
CIPMO and the conference originated from the municipality of 
Milan, the regions of Lombardia and Piemonte, the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs and the Caripolo Foundation.  A broad array 
of speakers were assembled to discuss issues facing this 
rapidly expanding segment of Italy's immigrant population, 
including Mario Morcone, head of the Department for Civil 
Liberties and Immigration in the Interior Ministry. 
Unfortunately, there was a noticeable lack of 
second-generation Muslims speaking at the event with only two 
giving voice to the concerns of their community. 
 
3.(SBU) One of the key topics debated was educational 
opportunities.  Participants discussed the situation in 
Italian schools for second-generation immigrant (2G) 
students.  The local media has paid significant attention to 
the topic recently, highlighting the increasing numbers of 
immigrant children in Italian classrooms and the fact that in 
some areas, Italian children are in the minority.  With the 
continuing decline of the Italian birthrate and an overall 
negative population growth, and the increasing number of 2G 
and immigrant children, particularly in the north, this 
phenomenon is on the rise.  One speaker reiterated the 
problem that 2G young people are considered immigrants 
despite their Italian birth and pointed out that they now 
outnumber new immigrants in many areas.  Although the need 
for cultural and linguistic pluralism in the classroom is 
evident, no one presented a proposal for making it a reality. 
 No one raised the hot-button question of crucifixes in the 
classroom but there was recognition that if space or time is 
reserved for one religion it must be done for all. 
 
4.(SBU) Another issue of keen interest to 2G immigrants of 
all faiths is the right and opportunity to work.  Although 
Italian national labor statistics are not differentiated by 
religion, Lombardy has completed a survey of immigrant 
workers on the impact their faith has upon their employment. 
Conference participants discussed the data which concluded 
that prejudices experienced by 2G and newcomer Muslims at 
initial employment stages (interviews, hiring) does not seems 
to carry over into actual employment.  Overall statistics for 
Muslim workers were comparable to other immigrant laborers. 
That said, it was clear from the survey responses that 
because it is difficult enough to find employment, most 
Muslim workers do not ask for accommodation to practice their 
faith, including time for prayer, fasting, etc. 
Unfortunately, as the presenter pointed out, the survey did 
not capture the experience of a growing segment of the 2G 
Muslim population, that of the university-educated seeking 
professional positions.  Some raised the concern that the 
lack of government support and the opportunity to integrate 
and participate civically could lead to increased extremism, 
particularly among those with the education and skills that 
are attractive to terrorist recruiters. 
 
5.(SBU) Though not solely a "2G" issue, the issue of mosque 
construction was discussed as well - inspired by the Swiss 
ban on minarets that lead  the headlines the day the 
conference began.   All speakers denounced the law declaring 
that any such referendum in Italy would be 
"unconstitutional."  Although mosque projects across northern 
Italy are stalled for a variety of stated reasons, many at 
the conference argued that it is the selective enforcement of 
laws and regulations that is the greatest hurdle on the path 
to development.  Though people oppose other building projects 
based on aesthetics, one expert noted, only mosque s seem to 
generate opposition to their very right to be built. 
 
6.(C) In the only real moment of issue-specific debate in the 
 
MILAN 00000237  002 OF 002 
 
 
conference, local government officials from Turin and Milan 
briefly bantered about the push for new mosques in their 
respective cities.   According to Ilda Curti, Assessore for 
Immigration and Integration in Turin, the new mosque project 
there, funded entirely by the Moroccan government, is 
progressing smoothly with the cooperation of city leaders. 
She described the Northern League-proposed regulation that a 
mosque can't be built within one kilometer of a church as 
absurd since, in Italy, that leaves just about nowhere.  In 
her words, "worship needs proximity."   Interestingly, the 
Turin plans do not breach this boundary nor do they call for 
a minaret as it would violate a city ordinance on building 
towers.  From the progressive approach of Turin, the floor 
was passed to Aldo Brandirali, the President of the Social 
Service Commission in Milan, who began with "From the heaven 
that is Turin to the hell that is Milan."  Although he 
acknowledged that a portion of his own political coalition, 
Forza Italy, wants to "restrain" freedom of religion, he 
claimed that the city had established "a path for communities 
to follow in proposing places of worship."  There has been 
much debate in Milan as members of the Muslim community call 
for the construction of a large central mosque while city 
leaders have claimed that several smaller, 
population-controlled places of worship are a better option. 
Brandirali also indicated that the controversial 
mosque-building proposal in Milan is now in the hands of 
Milan's Prefect (the senior federal law enforcement official 
in the city), essentially absolving city leaders from further 
responsibility. 
 
7.(SBU) For the nearly half a million 2G immigrants in Italy, 
educational and workplace integration and the ability to 
worship freely are key.  However, as many pointed out, in the 
end an easier road to citizenship is the one true guarantor 
of civic participation and responsible integration.  Summing 
up the fundamental issue facing 2G immigrants, Fatima Zahara 
Habibeddine of the Association of Young Muslims in Italy, 
stressed that until Muslims have the opportunity to 
meaningfully participate in the community as citizens, they 
can not truly integrate.  That opportunity to participate 
will not come, according to Habibeddine, until Italians, 
particularly those in government, recognize their rights of 
citizenship.  She concluded by described the plight faced by 
many who, while awaiting citizenship, can not leave Italy for 
years at a time.  "It is ironic," she said, "that these 
people you (Italy) appear not to want in the country are 
prevented from leaving it."  Habibeddine was referring to the 
requirement of 18 years of uninterrupted residency that is 
necessary for a second-generation immigrant to apply for 
citizenship.  Should the applicant leave Italy for a period 
of three months or more during the required period, the 
residency "clock" resets at zero and the 18 year required 
period must begin again upon return before an application for 
citizenship will be considered. 
 
8.(C) Comment: The purpose of the National Conference of 
Second Generation Muslims, organized by the Center for Peace 
in the Middle East, was to generate dialogue about the rights 
and duties of citizenship of 2G Muslims in Italy.  With the 
number of 2G children born here increasing 13.2% in the last 
year and an expectation that this trend will continue, there 
was universal recognition that changes and improved efforts 
toward inclusion for all immigrants, and 2G young Muslims in 
particular, are necessary and overdue.  However, of the 
thirty-five speakers at the conference, only six were Muslim. 
 Of them, only half were second-generation immigrants.  For a 
conference designed to discuss the issues important to this 
segment of the population, relatively little was heard in 
their own voices.  Those that did speak from the 2G community 
expressed frustration with the endless talk and limited 
action on issues that all have recognized as essential for 
the past several years.  Action in these areas is important 
as there is true concern that continued disenfranchisement 
can lead young Muslims to seek an alternative, and quite 
possibly more extremist community, where he or she can 
belong.  End Comment 
 Wohlauer