APCOM

Despite the back pedal of a part of Milano's city council majority, that of today should have been the last Friday prayer on the Jenner's avenues pavements for around 400,000 Milanese Muslims that the cultural centre is not able to contain any longer. "We do respect the agreements with the prefect, I don't know if the others do the same," pointed out Abdel Hamid Shari, the centre's president. "I trust the prefect," he added after the prayer. "Until a new instruction is not given, I'm aware of the fact that next Friday we will go to the Vigorelli, while the cultural centre remains here, waiting for a definitive solution."

The prefect is now responsible for the thorny issue. He will have the last word, as underlined by the mayor Letizia Moratti. "The final decision is up to him," she said. "This is a city where there are the typical difficulties of the cities with many ethnic groups and several groups of interest. We try to hold a dialogue with all these groups, but sometimes it is impossible." Muslims today looked surprised about the transfer, rather than reluctant. It is a temporary solution, as claims a leaflet both in Arabic and in Italian given out in Jenner avenue. However, the citizens of the Vigorelli's area fear that it will last for months.

"We can't foretell the future," Shari replied when asked how long they will use the velodrome. "It depends on all the people involved, but I'm sure that if politicians want to solve the problem they can do it. Vice versa, they could also draw it out." Also the imam Abu Imad talked about the transfer. During his sermon, he explained that "there hasen't been any disagreement, because these people are accustomed to praying in the street, so any solution is better." Vigorelli, at least, "is a safe and decent place."

The only novelty today were the dozens of cameras and photographers who came to depict the prayer in the middle of cars. As for the rest, everything was like usual: both the garage and the courtyard were crowded with people, pavements were covered with green rugs, the avenue's inhabitants appeared at the windows as soon as a loudspeaker spread the imam's voice. "There is no nostalgia," concluded Shari. "If we will leave this venue we are not going to die." Up to now he hasn't received any proposals, nor from institutions neither from privates. The dream is that of a big mosque to be built in view of the 2015 Expo. "Millions of Muslims will have the chance to come to Milano," he added. "It is up to the city to decide if it wants to be narrow minded."