By how much has the Muslim population in Italy increased since 1970? Before googling, take a guess.
In 47 years, from 1970 to 2017, the Muslim population in Italy, both of citizens and migrants, has gone from 2,000 (in 1970) to 1.6 million, at the beginning of 2017, and should reach 2 million by the end of 2018. In other words, the number of Muslims in Italy will have increased more than one thousand times in less than a half-century. Should we care?
Italy has always been a welcoming country, open to the world, with a tradition of hospitality that is part of Italian culture, and a destination for people who come to admire the cradle of so much of Western civilization. But now, instead of those who come to admire its art and architecture, a new set of visitors has arrived, a very different group of people, who display no interest in the history, the art, the architecture, the music, the literature of Italy, no interest in the foundations of the culture that defines the West, with the artifacts of that culture, from Rome to the Renaissance, everywhere tangible and present. Instead, these new visitors have arrived in Italy, completely indifferent or often positively hostile to all of these achievements, and have come not to visit but to settle, and not to contribute but to help themselves to whatever benefits the generous Italian state makes available. And in taking and taking, these Muslim migrants leave less for the Italians themselves.
We know, thanks to Oriana Fallaci’s memorable eyewitness description in in The Rage and the Pride (La Rabbia e l’Orgoglio, 2002), how Muslim migrants disported themselves in Florence, until finally dispersed after several horrific months: They “set up their tents on the sidewalk right by the Duomo (Cathedral), where they kept their shoes and slippers that in their own countries would be lined up outside the mosques. And along with those shoes and slippers, bottles of water to wash their feet before prayer. A tent placed right in front of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, beside the Baptistery with the golden doors of Ghiberti … with little seats and little tables and chaise-longues and mattresses to sleep on and to have sex on, and little portable burners to cook their food, poisoning the Piazza with smoke and stink, and with a recording device always blaring at full blast, enriched with the loud nasty vulgar voice of the muezzin that punctually called the faithful to prayers, deafening the Infidels, and overwhelming the sound of the church bells…And with all that, the yellow streams of urine that defiled the marble of the Baptistery walls” and desecrated, too, by urinating on, the gilded bronze doors of the Baptistery, Ghiberti’s famous “Gates of Paradise,” one of the great masterpieces of Western art. And that was not all Oriana Fallaci saw and reported on: there were still more “yellow streams of urine, and the fetid stink of the defecations that blocked the door of San Salvatore al Vescovo, the exquisite 11th century Romanesque church in back of the Cathedral that the Sons of Allah had transformed into a latrine.” It’s a hellish picture, as only Fallaci in her full fury could paint, of Muslim migrants demonstrating their special contempt for Christianity and for the Christians who had given them refuge and succor.
And there are other memorable examples of Muslim appreciation of Italian art. Perhaps you remember those Muslims, connected to Al Qaeda, who plotted in 2009 to destroy a 15th-century fresco by Giovanni da Modena in the San Petronio Cathedral in Bologna, a fresco in which the artist follows Dante’s description of Muhammad in the 8th circle of Hell, tearing at his own entrails.
Even though that plot was foiled in time, other Muslims have since called for the Catholic Church itself to demolish, or if not that, at least to “remove,” this fresco. This calling on the Church to do away with the fresco, rather than trying again to blow up all of San Petronio, might be considered by some as an improvement in Muslim behavior. The Church did not yield to this demand (this was before Pope Francis), and the fresco remains where it was. But in order for the fresco to be safeguarded, visitors must now stand at a greater distance from it than before, and a metal grate has been installed, too, so that it is now impossible to enter the dark side chapel where the fresco is located, and this obscures the view of this masterpiece even further. Thus the Muslims have won; the hated fresco is still where it was, but now it is part of Italy’s art heritage that can no longer be seen and admired because it has to be protected from Muslims.
But even works of art whose subjects — unlike the fresco of Giovanni da Modena — have nothing to do with Islam are still in danger for two reasons. First, given the Hadith that reports Muhammad’s statement that “angels do not enter a house that has a picture in it,” and that the word “picture” has been held to include statues as well as painted depictions of humans, much of Western art (with such obvious exceptions as landscapes and abstract art) is in permanent peril from those Muslims who take to heart, and decide to act upon, Muhammad’s words. How much of the art in Italy – statues, frescoes, paintings — is potentially a target of Muslim attacks because of the prohibition on “pictures”? Surely a great deal. Second, even where there is no “picture” involved, such artifacts found in churches as crucifixes, reliquaries, candlesticks, hymnals and prayer books, are all Christian works and therefore have been, and always will be, targets for Muslim vandalism and destruction.
And that is exactly what happened in 2016, as in years past. Muslims continued to leave intermittent reminders of their contempt for their Christian Italian hosts, as with the statue of San Petronio (patron saint of Bologna), vandalized this past June. The Christmas season was marked by Nativity scenes destroyed or even set on fire (and of course not only in Italy), along with the by now standard destruction and desecration of precisely those “crucifixes, reliquaries, candlesticks, hymnals and prayer books,” which signify Christianity and thus deserve to be destroyed whatever the season. Urination and defecation in churches, on altars, seems to be a continuing theme in these attacks. From the scene Fallaci described in 2002, through to 2013 where a group of Muslims defecated on an altar here and up to January 2015 when, after attacking a man praying in the chapel of San Barnaba in Perugia, five Muslims smashed and then urinated on a statue of Mary, described here, and this kind of nauseating behavior is not limited to Italy, for here’s a recent example of Muslim migrants in Sweden, expressing their understanding of interfaith outreach.
Crucifixes, which can themselves be venerable works of art, have been destroyed in many different places all over Italy, and not only those found in churches. Last October, the crucifix at Lake Fimon in the Berici Hills was smeared with red paint for the second time in ten months. On the same day, a Ghanaian Muslim went on an orgy of destruction in four different churches in Rome, at the Basilica of Santa Prassede, San Martino ai Monti, the Basilicas of San Giovanni de’ Fiorentini and the San Vitale, destroying not just crucifixes, including one that dated back to the 9th century, but statues too, and reliquaries. When caught, he insisted that “it was not right that we worship in this way.” And of course, in Islam, it isn’t.
There is much more of this that has been underreported in the Western press – often confined to a small item in a local paper — of creches smashed or thrown into rivers, of sacred books being ripped or burned, of graffiti smeared on church walls, of destruction of religious art, and the desecration of objects of worship of every kind.. And this kind of thing has happened not only in Italy, but in France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Greece (Crete). It is in Italy, however, that there is so much more of the Western world’s art heritage protection from attack. You may scare some Muslims into not vandalizing art works with the prospect of prosecution, but how can you convince faithful Muslims to forever allow that which Muhammed himself prohibited? It can’t be done. Think not only of the Bamiyan Buddhas blown up just a few years ago, but also of the long list of Buddhist temples, shrines, stupas, destroyed by Islamic invaders; think of the thousands of Hindu temples and temple complexes razed in India by Muslims; or all the Byzantine churches damaged or razed when the Ottoman Turks solidified their rule. Why should Western Europe’s art be spared, especially as Muslim numbers increase and they feel ever more emboldened to act on their beliefs? Isn’t that one of the considerations that should be taken into account as the wisdom of mass Muslim migration is debated?
And even without wholesale destruction of Christian art and artifacts, demands for their removal, so as to essentially de-Christianize the public space, are worrisome. Adel Smith, a Muslim convert, founder of the Union of the Muslims of Italy, sued to have the crucifix removed from his children’s school. The crucifix in Italy is not only a religious but a cultural symbol; forcing its removal, as Italian Labor Minister Maroni said at the time, “is outrageous. It is unacceptable that one judge should cancel out millennia of history.” But the Muslim petitioner, who referred to the crucifix dismissively as “a small body on two wooden sticks” won his case in court. Fortunately, the Italian Council of State later overturned that decision, upholding the display of the crucifix in all government-sponsored spaces. But the brazen attempt to remove such an important cultural symbol was telling.
Perhaps most outrageous of all was the demand by the same Adel Smith to have the entire Divine Comedy banned from Italian schools because Dante places Muhammad in the 8th Circle of Hell (Inferno, Canto 28). Following conventional Christian views of Islam in the Middle Ages, Dante regarded Islam as a heretical offshoot of Christianity and Muhammad as a sower of discord; thus Dante describes him in the 8th Circle of Hell with his entrails hanging out: ”Look at the maimed Muhammad” (“Vedi come storpiato e’ Maometto”). No doubt this text infuriates Muslims, and so do any illustrations that have been made that show Muhammad in Dante’s 8th Circle of Hell.. But so what? To ban Dante, Italy’s greatest literary figure, central to its cultural identity, from Italian schools because of a few lines in one Canto? Are we to curry favor with Muslims by such censorship? That a Muslim dared to even raise the matter is flabbergasting. It would be as if Muslims in England demanded the removal of Shakespeare from the schools because of three lines in Othello: Othello, a Christianized Moor, in the employ of Christian Venice against the Muslim Ottomans, describes how he handled a “malignant and a turbaned Turk” who had “beat a Venetian and traduced the state”: “I took by the throat the circumcised dog/And smote him – thus.” Is it really so far-fetched to imagine such a demand might someday be made by a Muslim group in Great Britain, or that “in a spirit of compromise” Muslims could lower their request so that not all of Shakespeare, but “only Othello,” be removed ? Half the interfaith-outreach vicars in England might support this, claiming that we shouldn’t give Shakespeare a pass for his “Islamophobia” just because he’s Shakespeare. Anything is possible in this absurd new world of Hypertrophied Diversity and Limitless Tolerance for the “Other” (meaning not all others, just Muslims). So far, Dante remains in the Italian curriculum. But would it be surprising if further Muslim attempts to ban at least Canto 28 from the school syllabus were made?
Italy is the greatest repository of art in the Western world, and the Italians have a special responsibility to protect this common heritage. Imagine what new threats and new worries about the art in its churches and its museums and its public spaces will arise, because Islam prohibits the form (i.e., “pictures”), and Muslims despise the content, of so much of that Christian art? Doesn’t history suggest that as Muslims sense their growing strength in numbers, both their demands and their aggressive behavior will increase? The continued adamant refusal of many Catholic clerics, who are the stewards of so much of this art, to link the current vandalism and destruction of art to Islam itself, is wrong, regrettable, and a dereliction of duty. With a Muslim population that by 2020 will have increased a thousandfold in less than half-a-century, how will Italy deal with Muslims when there are not 1.6 million of them, as there are now, but two or three times that number? What’s to come is still unsure, but what has already been happening to the artistic heritage in Italy is cause for alarm. And given what Muslims have done when the wood is green, what will happen when the wood is dry?

miriamrove says
Muslims and specially Islamic governments don’t give a …..f about arts. I was in the city of Isfahan last year which has dozens of buildings fro 1500 years ago to the 19th century. There is a bridge there that was built nearly 1000 years ago by an Iranian general who was a Christian. The bridge is called:
seeuse pol. Seeuse means 33 and pol means bridge. He built it like that because Jesus died at that age. It is full of graffiti and in s… state. m
Hugh FitzgeraldI says
Not content to destroy the artistic heritage of non-Muslikms, the Saudis enjoy tearing down their own Islamic heritage including, ini Mecca, allmost every building asssociated with Muhammad:’
“Two years ago in Mecca the 1,300-year-old house of Hamza, the uncle of the prophet, was bulldozed to make way for a hotel. The house where Muhammad was believed to have been born in AD570 has also been demolished for a skyscraper.
The litany of destruction includes the sites associated with the Prophet’s family: the house of Khadija, his first wife, and the tomb of his daughter Fatima, destroyed in Medina as early as the 1920s along with that of his nephew Hasan ibn Ali, the son of Fatima and Ali, the first imam of the Shi’ites. The Hilton hotel now stands on the ruins of the ancient house of Muhammad’s father-in-law. Five of the “Seven Mosques” built by Muhammad’s daughter were demolished 90 years ago. In 2002 Mecca’s Ajyad Fortress, built by the Ottomans in 1780 on a hill overlooking the Grand Mosque, was destroyed; in its place is one of the tallest buildings in the world, the Abraj Al-Bait.”
Now Mecca is full of skyscrapers, and the third largest building i nthe world. The lasvegasification is complete. Buildings as crass and soulless as they come. That’s the architectural future that Muslims. have in store for themselves; for us it will be even worse. I wonder if Prince Charles, who fancies himself an upholder of ttraditional archtitecture, realizes what his beloved Muslims do with venerable buildings. He might receive a salutary shock.
miriamrove says
I was born and raised in Iran. Today an iconic building in Tehran caught fire and imploded killing at least 50 fire fighters. This building was at most 15 stories and entire building was a garment center. When was around 10 years old we used to watch them building it. It was the tallest building back then. Last year I went to Tehran to visit my family and I took my 16 year old boy with for the first time. I took him to this building to show him that back then this was the tallest building. I went it and I left after a minute or two. The stair cases were loaded with clothing, propane tanks and people are running up and down smoking. The islamic government do not give a s… about anything except their security apparatus to oppress people. m
Angemon says
I suppose the destruction of sites associated with muhammad by the Saudis is based on islamic law – a preventive measure to avoid idolatry. ISIS destroyed the Tombs of Jonah and Daniel a few years ago for that same reason, per Bukhari, Book 1, Volume 8, number 427: “May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of their Prophets”
gravenimage says
Yes, Hugh–and we’ve seen Muslims destroying Islamic heritage elsewhere, as well–including in Mali and Syria. Pious Muslims have no respect for art or history.
JIMJFOX says
And STILL religions demand ‘respect’- most of all the least religious of them all.
And our elected leaders bow down to it. They all need drowning in liquid excrement.
davej says
They are the Vandals of Civilization, full of hatred and a matching appetite for mindless destruction. No respect for truth or beauty, no respect for others or even themselves.
So sad to hear about the ruination of Italy’s artistic and religious heritage. Perhaps the Tourist Board should have a new slogan “Italy, visit it now before it’s gone”.
bernie says
Now if Italians are smart (and they apparently have a high average national IQ), they’ll work to increase the currently-low native birth rate, and bring in Christian immigrants from places such as Philippines, Venezuela, Ethiopia and so on.
marina says
I am saddened to learn about the destruction of these beautiful arts and churches. Moslems have no appreciation for things of beauty. What a dry, boring killjoy religion. It’s no wonder their contribution to the world is zero.
davej says
I’d settle for zero but it’s much worse than that.
Imagine if they used all their monomaniacal energy for something good instead, but that is not going to happen.
marina says
We have to give Dante credit for his correct opinion on the vile Mohammad. Mo deserves hell with entrails hanging out for sure. If only the the leftists, Pope Francis , European leaders would have the same brilliant brain like Dante then all these Muslim appeasement would subside
james.mich says
The Italians are spiritless cowards – as their craven behaviour during WW2 shows. This is a fight that calls for resolution, zeal, fortitude, perseverance, fearlessness, and utter refusal to yield an inch. The Italians have none of these qualities. So it is absolutely certain that the Italian bishops will continue with their suicidal flattery and welcome of the invading Mahometan barbarians.
If it were up to me, I would order all refugee boats to be bombed, and sent to the bottom. Since they hate us like poison already, giving them a reason – of sorts – to do so, is not going to make a lot of difference. But a lot of Muzrats would be dead as doornails, so no longer in a position to rape, defecate, and pillage.
toomanyamericanmuslims says
lol the Italians are cowards when they have tougher immigration laws and fewer Muslims than America the UK and most of Europe?
Have you Americucks forgotten so quickly that Italians were at the forefront of stopping the Islamic advance into Europe for 1400 years?
And that Italians fought and died beside you in Iraq and Afghanistan?
How about you try to deal with the Muslim problem in your own countries before you criticize a country that is actually doing something right.
https://www.stripes.com/news/italy-deters-terrorism-with-tough-citizenship-deportation-policies-1.434055
Rosie says
Interesting article. My mother is from Italy, I grew up bilingual in Italian and I regularly read or listen to their news, mostly RAI. What I hear on a daily basis is the continuing arrival on Italian shores of “refugees “. The Italians don’t turn them away, they rescue them, bring them ashore, and feed clothe and house them. So I’m surprised to hear that they are aggressive about deportation. But I don’t have ground truth, just media reports, haven’t been since 2003.
Keith Gilbert says
Now, only the Carabinieri can save Italy from the invaders…they have the patriotism to pull it off.
gravenimage says
Yes–and Muslims are just getting started on destroying the greatest heritage of art in the world, if we do not act to stop them.
Politicalqrm says
The 7th century culture known as Islam does not create. It destroys.. Throughout the centuries it has done nothing but destroy. Art does not exist in this backwards society; it is spat on, torn apart and ground into the dirt.
DFD says
Art existed tens of thousands of years ago in Germany, in the Neander Valley, plenty of paintings describing their lives.
Wonder when the filth will attack these, after all, pagan art…
Susette says
I love Dante’s vision of mahomet…beautifully described! And thanks to Giovanni da Modena for the visual of mahomet in HELL!
But this story really saddens me. Italy is the land of my ancestors and I have good friends and family there. I visit frequently, but not in the past few years because I can’t bear to see all the moslems destroying one of the richest cultures to cherish beauty and individual expression ever. Italy gave us opera, precious art and sculpture, fashion, cars, architecture, inventions that still exist today (the aquaducts, for instance), food, wine (oh, the wine!)…the list goes on…And what has islam given us? DESTRUCTION. They need to be removed from Europe. The CANNOT be permitted to tramp on the European art and culture. Please Europe, WAKE UP.
Screeminmeeme says
Unfortunately, i can see no resolution to the Islamization of the West apart from another Crusades movement and the West needs a warrior like Charles ‘The Hammer’ Martel to lead it.