Muslims join Catholics in Italy to show solidarity amid terrorism threat

Muslims in Italy joined Catholics to Mass on Sunday in bid to show solidarity in the face of terrorism threat across Europe after the killing of a priest in France.

Izzedin Elzir, the head of Italy's Union of Islamic communities called on his colleagues to "take this historic moment to transform tragedy into a moment of dialogue."

According to local media reports, the secretary general of Italy's Islamic Confederation, Abdullah Cozzolino spoke at the Treasure of St. Gennaro chapel while three imams attended Mass at the St. Maria Church in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood. The Imams in traditional dress entered the sanctuary and sat down in the front row.

Ahmed El Balzai, the imam of the Vobarno mosque in Brescia, a northern Italian city near Milan, said he did not fear repercussions for speaking out.

"These people are tainting our religion and it is terrible to know that many people consider all Muslims terrorists. That is not the case," El Balazi said. "Religion is one thing. Another is the behavior of Muslims who don't represent us."

In response to the meeting of Muslims and Catholics, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said the Italian Muslims "are showing their communities the way of courage against fundamentalism."

Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano told the Senate earlier this week that authorities were scrutinizing mosque financing and working with the Islamic community to ensure that imams study in Italy, preach in Italian and are aware of Italy's legal structuring. He also mentioned the 35 Jihadists expelled by the government since January this year. Enditem