Castiglione Mayor Addresss Foreign Integration and Worship Space Plans
“There is no integration between foreigners and the residents of Castiglione; there is absolutely no dialogue, and there are very few interactions.” This is the opinion of the mayor Arturo Sigurtà regarding the presence of foreigners in the Cinque Continenti neighborhood and their living conditions. An issue that is currently stirring tensions within the majority.
The mayor also announced that he has received a request for the creation of a gathering place in a venue located beneath the Casablanca bar, the bar adjacent to the Cinque Continenti neighborhood: that same location is intended to be repurposed as a space for worship, a sort of mini-mosque.
Initiatives for Integration and Worship Spaces
“I believe there is much to do before we can achieve integration between the Castiglionesi and the foreigners living in our town. I notice it in the frequent contacts I have with foreigners — said the mayor — and also from marriages: mixed marriages are almost exclusively between middle-aged Italians and very young foreigners, or between Italian teenagers and Moroccan citizens.”
As for the rest, we are very far from it, despite the administration working, with me leading the effort, to do something for integration. I believe there are people who work sincerely, without illusions: certainly, within any group, there can always be a bad apple.
Nonetheless, it’s important that we take action to do something concrete. I am talking about gathering places like the Casablanca bar, which will reopen this time managed by foreigners and with a ban on alcohol sales, which might prevent some of the problems that occurred.
Furthermore, I have received a request to establish, in the two garages beneath the bar, a meeting and worship space. I am currently reviewing it and will decide accordingly. I encourage the community to discuss and participate in meetings about these issues.
Religious Matters and Local News
But the topic of mosques and worship spaces for foreigners is not new. As will be remembered, just a few months ago, a news incident related to religious celebrations of residents of the Cinque Continenti neighborhood sparked protests from the Lega, which then began its campaign to establish a parliamentary oversight commission.