Religious freedom, cultural norms, and women’s Islamic attire: an open letter to the Muslim community in Monfalcone, Italy / Piermauro Catarinella … [et al.]

During the summer of 2023, a noteworthy incident unfolded in Monfalcone, Italy, as several Muslim women entered the sea while remaining clothed. This event captured significant attention, triggering a widespread debate involving ordinary citizens—both Italians and foreigners residing in Italy— and political entities represented in the Italian Parliament. Mayor Anna Maria Cisint addressed the matter by sending a letter to the city’s Muslim community, expressing concern that the practice of foreign Muslim women entering the water clothed was deemed unacceptable and indecent. Cisint contended that such behavior ran counter to the decorum and culture of Italy, causing confusion among beachgoers and infringing upon the principles of coexistence between individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Employing an impartial and analytical approach, this paper scrutinizes whether the conduct of these Muslim women can be deemed “indecent” and in violation of Italian culture, from both legal and sociocultural perspectives. The study also delves into the freedom of the Islamic religion in Italy, considering not only its ritual aspects but also the broader consequences stemming directly from the religion itself. Furthermore, it explores the status of the relationship between local Italians and residents in Italy who adhere to the Islamic faith. The findings indicate that while Italy acknowledges and safeguards the freedom of religion for all, not solely its citizens, discussions surrounding Muslims and their religion are intensifying and increasingly involving national institutions and political parties. This paper, contextualizing these local headlines, assesses the degree to which Muslim individuals are seamlessly integrated into Western Italian society. The study concludes that the issue of Islam and its adherents is frequently exploited as a political tool in ideological battles unrelated to the constitutional right to practice this religion, or any other, in Italy. To address these complex issues, this qualitative research paper analyzes and interprets documents from the Italian Government and lower institutions, along with interviews featuring prominent politicians, scholars, imams, and other religious leaders, conducted across various media platforms, and scrutinizes recent articles published by Italian newspapers.