UCOII
Encyclopedia
The UCOII is an Italian Islamic association and probably Italy's largest Muslim umbrella group.
components of the Unione degli Studenti Musulmani in Italia (USMI) organization, some female Islamic organizations as Islam Donne and the contribution of some individuals as Hamza Roberto Piccardo
, a former militant of Autonomia Operaia
converted to Islam
and actually director of the publishing house Libreriaislamica.it (formerly known as “Al Hikma”) .
Initially the Presidency
had been assumed by Nour Dachan, a leader of the Syrian component of the Muslim Brotherhood
, and the Secretariat by Ali Abu Shwaima, a leader of the Palestinian component of the same organization; successively such charge has gone to Roberto Piccardo.
1. one only representation in front of the institutions of the Italian State and the one only reference point for the same institutions to relate with Islam in Italy
2. legal and administrative technical guidelines
3. cultural organization of activities and mediations
4. conventions, conferences and youth camps
5. collection and distribution of informations
6. social and humanitarian activities
7. production and distribution of printed publications, materials and audiovisual aids
8. study and elaboration of programs and proposals in the fields of technical instruction and of the professional formation
organization are overwhelmingly dominants, and for such ties the association has been sourly contested.
In her defence UCOII claims that such ties are limited to the personal militancy of part of her leadership and management and that UCOII related more actually to the European Council for Fatwa and Research
, to scholars like the Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa
, to European Islam
, to Tariq Ramadan
, to the scholarship of islamic feminists and to the writings of Italian converts and Muslim youngs and students in Italy
. However, European Council for Fatwa and Research
is led by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the leading ideologue of the Muslim Brotherhood, Ali Gomaa
is also a member of the organization, while Tariq Ramadan
is its leader in Europe and the grandson of its founder Hasan al-Banna
History
The present Association is the product of the fusion of various previously existing organizations such as the Syrian and PalestinianPalestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
components of the Unione degli Studenti Musulmani in Italia (USMI) organization, some female Islamic organizations as Islam Donne and the contribution of some individuals as Hamza Roberto Piccardo
Hamza Roberto Piccardo
Hamza Roberto Piccardo was a member of the Directive Council of UCOII, the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy, as well as spokesperson of the European Muslim Network. He is not currently serving any executive position in UCOII....
, a former militant of Autonomia Operaia
Autonomia Operaia
Autonomia Operaia was an Italian extra-parliamentary leftist movement particularly active from 1976 to 1978. It emerged in 1972 not as a party but rather as a place of encounter among various extra-parliamentary and revolutionary left-wing tendencies opposed to reformism...
converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and actually director of the publishing house Libreriaislamica.it (formerly known as “Al Hikma”) .
Initially the Presidency
Presidency
The word presidency is often used to describe the administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation...
had been assumed by Nour Dachan, a leader of the Syrian component of the Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
, and the Secretariat by Ali Abu Shwaima, a leader of the Palestinian component of the same organization; successively such charge has gone to Roberto Piccardo.
UCOII's aims
UCOII’s aims are to supply the Italian islamic community with:1. one only representation in front of the institutions of the Italian State and the one only reference point for the same institutions to relate with Islam in Italy
2. legal and administrative technical guidelines
3. cultural organization of activities and mediations
4. conventions, conferences and youth camps
5. collection and distribution of informations
6. social and humanitarian activities
7. production and distribution of printed publications, materials and audiovisual aids
8. study and elaboration of programs and proposals in the fields of technical instruction and of the professional formation
Criticisms
Amongst the mosques affiliated to UCOII those directly or indirectly linked to the Muslim BrotherhoodMuslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
organization are overwhelmingly dominants, and for such ties the association has been sourly contested.
In her defence UCOII claims that such ties are limited to the personal militancy of part of her leadership and management and that UCOII related more actually to the European Council for Fatwa and Research
European Council for Fatwa and Research
The European Council for Fatwa and Research is a Dublin-based private foundation, founded in London on 29 March - 30 March 1997 on the initiative of the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe...
, to scholars like the Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa
Ali Gomaa
Sheikh Ali Goma'a is the Grand Mufti of Egypt through Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah succeeding Ahmad El-Tayeb. He has been called "one of the most widely respected jurists in the Sunni Muslim world," and described as "a highly promoted champion of moderate Islam," gender equality, and an "object of...
, to European Islam
European Islam
European Islam or Euro-Islam is a hypothesized new branch of Islam, which some believe is or should be emerging in Europe...
, to Tariq Ramadan
Tariq Ramadan
Tariq Ramadan is a Swiss academic, poet and writer. He is also a Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Oxford University...
, to the scholarship of islamic feminists and to the writings of Italian converts and Muslim youngs and students in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. However, European Council for Fatwa and Research
European Council for Fatwa and Research
The European Council for Fatwa and Research is a Dublin-based private foundation, founded in London on 29 March - 30 March 1997 on the initiative of the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe...
is led by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the leading ideologue of the Muslim Brotherhood, Ali Gomaa
Ali Gomaa
Sheikh Ali Goma'a is the Grand Mufti of Egypt through Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah succeeding Ahmad El-Tayeb. He has been called "one of the most widely respected jurists in the Sunni Muslim world," and described as "a highly promoted champion of moderate Islam," gender equality, and an "object of...
is also a member of the organization, while Tariq Ramadan
Tariq Ramadan
Tariq Ramadan is a Swiss academic, poet and writer. He is also a Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Oxford University...
is its leader in Europe and the grandson of its founder Hasan al-Banna
Sources
- Andrea Pacini: "I musulmani in Italia. Dinamiche organizzative e processi di interazione con la società e le istituzioni italiane", in S. Ferrari [a cura di], Musulmani in Italia. La condizione giuridica delle comunità islamiche, il Mulino, Bologna (2000).
- "Enciclopedia delle religioni in Italia" / CESNUR. [A cura di] Massimo IntrovigneMassimo IntrovigneMassimo Introvigne is an Italian sociologist and intellectual property consultant. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions , an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Introvigne is the author of tens of books and articles in...
... [et al.]. - Leumann (Torino) : Elledici, 2001. - 1047 S.; (ital.) ISBN 88-01-01596-8