The Church of Scientology of Milan hosted an interfaith conference February 19 featuring author and archivist Andrea Maori and his research into Italy’s post-World War II suppression of religious freedom.
The program, in observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week, promoted cooperation among religions and nongovernmental organizations to advance civil rights and respect for the Constitution of the Italian Republic.
Mr. Maori presented his book documenting the history of human rights and freedom of religion in Italy: Forbidden to Pray—Stories of Religious Intolerance in the Italian Republic, a treatise on the discrimination and abuse suffered by religious minorities in Italy from the end of World War II to the beginning of the millennium.
The new postwar Constitution of the Italian Republic guaranteed freedom of religion and belief to religious minorities, but these provisions were largely ignored, he said. The mindset and legal orientation of the former fascist regime tainted and continued to monitor the relationship between church and state through the mid 1980s, and according to Mr. Maori, remnants of this remains.
“In Italy, religious freedom is largely tolerated but we are prone to restrictions and discriminatory attitudes towards minorities. It is therefore necessary to pass the law, currently blocked in Parliament, that specifically protects all expressions of religiosity. This law would protect the freedom of thought and conscience of many associations, groups and movements.”
Andrea Maori’s historical research has focused on the effect of police control on Italian society. Among his works are Judaism: Rebuilding from the Rubble (2013); Police, Political Power and Movements for Human and Civil Rights 1945-2000 (2013); The Non-Violent War (2013); and The Labyrinth of Spies (2016).
Other speakers included Mark Natale, Director of Public Affairs of Church of Scientology Milan; Fabrizio D'Agostini, religious freedom lawyer; Harmanjot Kaur, representative of the Sikh community in Milan; and El Sayed Mahmoud of the Islamic community of Milan.
World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event adopted by the United Nations General Assembly October 20, 2010, “as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.” It is officially observed the first week of February.
An audio recording of the religious freedom forum at the Milano Church of Scientology is available here.
