Religion
Italy: Imam's marriage to a Catholic rattles Muslim hardliners
Turin, 20 October (AKI) - Moroccan imam Abdellah Mechoune's imminent marriage to Italian Catholic Sara Campanile in the northern Italian city of Turin has has been welcomed by friends and families but has rattled Muslim hardliners there. The couple got to know each other in a deprived, multi-ethnic area of the city that has seen simmering tensions between the immigrant and Italian communities there.
"Sure, Muslim fundamentalists - I prefer the word 'ignoramus' - have difficulty understanding and accepting us, but this doesn't matter," said Mechoune, quoted by Turin-based daily La Stampa on Tuesday.
"Catholics have many sound principles, which a devout Muslim can share, and vice-versa. I am Muslim, and Sara is Catholic - we don't expect each other to give up our faiths."
Mechoune is due to marry Campanile on Saturday in a civil ceremony. He met the inter-faith activist four years ago at Turin's International Inter-religious Federation. Mechoune is the former imam of the San Salvario mosque and is now a travelling preacher at various mosques in and around Turin.
"We share many ideas - about peace, aversion to all forms of violence, and the rejection of terrorism," said Mechoune.
The two 30-year-olds fell in love as they worked together on local parish projects in Turin's multi-ethnic, high-crime San Salvario neighbourhood. The run-down district for much of the late 1990s became a symbol of Italian urban conflict over immigration.
The couple celebrated their engagement several months ago in Morocco with Mechoune's family. Mechoune's mother is due to attend the wedding in Turin, La Stampa reported.
But Mechoune has also been welcomed into Campanile's family "with so much affection" he said, adding that the couple's friends have also backed them all the way.
If they have children, the couple will allow them to "freely learn" religious principles, said Mechoune .
"When they are old enough, they can decide for themselves, without us telling them what to think. They'll be free to determine their own lives," he said.
By a happy coincidence, Campanile does not like pork or alcohol, items which will not be appearing at meals in the couple's new home in a village on the outskirts of Turin.
"Sure, Muslim fundamentalists - I prefer the word 'ignoramus' - have difficulty understanding and accepting us, but this doesn't matter," said Mechoune, quoted by Turin-based daily La Stampa on Tuesday.
"Catholics have many sound principles, which a devout Muslim can share, and vice-versa. I am Muslim, and Sara is Catholic - we don't expect each other to give up our faiths."
Mechoune is due to marry Campanile on Saturday in a civil ceremony. He met the inter-faith activist four years ago at Turin's International Inter-religious Federation. Mechoune is the former imam of the San Salvario mosque and is now a travelling preacher at various mosques in and around Turin.
"We share many ideas - about peace, aversion to all forms of violence, and the rejection of terrorism," said Mechoune.
The two 30-year-olds fell in love as they worked together on local parish projects in Turin's multi-ethnic, high-crime San Salvario neighbourhood. The run-down district for much of the late 1990s became a symbol of Italian urban conflict over immigration.
The couple celebrated their engagement several months ago in Morocco with Mechoune's family. Mechoune's mother is due to attend the wedding in Turin, La Stampa reported.
But Mechoune has also been welcomed into Campanile's family "with so much affection" he said, adding that the couple's friends have also backed them all the way.
If they have children, the couple will allow them to "freely learn" religious principles, said Mechoune .
"When they are old enough, they can decide for themselves, without us telling them what to think. They'll be free to determine their own lives," he said.
By a happy coincidence, Campanile does not like pork or alcohol, items which will not be appearing at meals in the couple's new home in a village on the outskirts of Turin.
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