That Dutch Templethe “historic” church in Livorno, apparently in the process of becoming one mosque. This is what was reported by the Livorno press, which underlines the negotiations that began some time ago between the leadership of the Dutch-Alemannic Jemaah (owner of the building) and the Livorno Islamic Community, which is said to intend to acquire the building to become a mosque. The congregation, before starting a dialogue with the Muslim community in the Tuscan city, would knock on the doors of the Municipal Government (which is managed by a center-left coalition led by the PD) and ask the agency to purchase properties in need of restoration work. However, this request did not receive a positive response. “To completely rebuild the temple it would take 600-700 thousand euros. Of course we don’t have that amount. We have proposed to the Municipality to move the building for the symbolic price of one euro. – he said to the newspaper Tyrrhenian Sea Massimo Sanacore, governor of the Dutch-Alemannic Congregation – but the agency, which of course should take over the job, says “we’ll let you know”. And then we don’t know. Hence contacts with private individuals, all of which were unsuccessful, until the proposal of Islamic community. Of course, we will first agree on the road that protects the history of the temple built in 1864 by the architect Dario Giacomelli at a cost of 170 thousand lira”.
The transition from Protestant Christianity to Islam would also have been facilitated by the “secular” approach that Protestants took to their temples, thus offering others the possibility of establishing prayer centers at these locations. In short, there currently appears to be a good chance that negotiations will be successful. Finally, Susanna Ceccardi and Carlo Ghiozzi, respectively Member of the European Parliament and leader of the League group in the Livorno city council, spoke out on the issue. “What happened in Livorno was not a negotiation, but a political failure and culture which must be the full responsibility of the city government. The Dutch Temple is a monument that tells the history and identity of European and cosmopolitan Livorno. An identity made of tolerance, yes, but also of Christian roots that cannot simply be erased.
The Municipality had the opportunity to acquire this piece of history for one euro and save it from degradation but they turned it down, saying “no” to the protection of its cultural heritage and then watching, helplessly, at its potential sale to another denomination. – said two members of the Northern League, attacking the city’s centre-left government – check it out, guys Islam. One that clearly has important economic resources and, we hope, is equally transparent. Livorno does not deserve that its historical symbols be allowed to rot, be sold off, and have their original function distorted.
Mayor Salvetti stopped hiding behind red tape and took immediate action to address it block this operation, to find the resources necessary for the restoration of the Temple and restore them for the city, before our history is definitively archived and the Islamization of our society takes another step forward.”
