Islam in Italy

Islam in Europe
by percentage of country population[1]
  90–100%
  70–90%
  50–70%
Bosnia and Herzegovina
  30–40%
North Macedonia
  10–20%
  5–10%
  4–5%
  2–4%
  1–2%
  < 1%
The Mosque of Rome, the biggest mosque in the Western world

Islam is a minority religion in Italy. Muslim presence in Italy dates back to the 9th century, when Sicily came under control of the Aghlabid Dynasty. There was a large Muslim presence in Italy from 827 (the first occupation of Mazara)[2] until the 12th century. The Norman conquest of Sicily led to a gradual decline of Islam, due to the conversions and emigration of Muslims toward Northern Africa. A small Muslim community however survived at least until 1300 (the destruction of the Muslim settlement of Lucera).

During the 20th century, the first Somali immigrants from Italian Somaliland began to arrive.[citation needed] In more recent years, there has been migration from Pakistan, the Balkans, Bangladesh, India, Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia.[3] There are also some converts to Islam in Italy (most notably on the island of Sicily).[4]

  1. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". Pew Research Center. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Assessment of the status, development and diversification of fisheries-dependent communities: Mazara del Vallo Case study report" (PDF). European Commission. 2010. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012. In the year 827, Mazara was occupied by the Arabs, who made the city an important commercial harbour. That period was probably the most prosperous in the history of Mazara.
  3. ^ "Statistiche demografiche ISTAT". demo.istat.it. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  4. ^ "La comunità islamica più numerosa in Italia? Quella Italiana | Migranti Torino" (in Italian). 9 April 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-14.