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Italy: unfair system

Since 2011 onwards in Lombardia, some 16 places of worship of various Evangelical groups have been closed.

Leonardo de Chirico

Figure Image
The Coliseum in Rome | photo: iStock

Most of these buildings were used by migrant churches which ordinarily find it more difficult to find legal protection and are often hesitant to be outspoken about their problems. In 2005 a regional law was passed that allowed the local police to check whether or not these buildings were registered as places of worship. Its motivation was to control the presence of Muslim places for prayer but it was also a form of hostility towards foreigners.