Italian Minister Calls for Extension of Imam Training Partnership with Fes’ Al-Qarawiyyin University

Rabat – Marco Minniti, Italy’s Interior Minister, called on Friday for the extension of the partnership agreement between Al-Qarawiyyin University and Italy’s Siena University regarding the training of imams. 

During a symposium, initiated by the Islamic and Cultural Center of Rome and held under the theme “Italian Muslims Together for a Solidarity Society,” Minniti stressed that the “training experience of imams will allow the Muslim community to better interact and integrate into society.”

The Italian official also welcomed the partnership agreement signed last October between the two universities, which includes the establishment of a training branch for imams in the Faculty of Humanities and Civilizational Communication at the University of Siena.

The partnership allows professors from the oldest Islamic teaching center, Al Qarawiyyin in Fes, to lead courses in Sharia and Islamic tradition for students of Islamic studies at the University of Siena.

“This is to train imams who are able to defend the authentic image of Islam,” the president of Al Qarawiyyin, Amal Jalal, said after the signing ceremony.

During the meeting, which was attended by Morocco’s ambassador to Italy, Hassan Abouyoub, Minister Minniti explained that, “the extension of such a partnership in Italy should be an example to follow in other European countries.”

According to him, integration remains the keystone for spreading the culture of tolerance and inter-religious dialogue, adding that, “Islam is not incompatible with the values advocated by the Italian Constitution.”

The chairman of the board of directors of the Islamic and Cultural Center, Khaled Chaouki, invited the Italian government to adopt a project reinforcing the integration of the Muslim community members, while endeavoring to solve the complex issues important to young people.

Following the growing number of Muslims that have moved to Italy, believed to be the fourth largest Muslim population in Europe, the Islamic and Cultural Center was founded in 1966 following a presidential decree.