Ex Oriente Lux 2024

68 Заика Александр Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет, Восточный факультет ISLAM IN ITALY: A HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE The Italian peninsula has experienced Islamic influence for over thirteen centuries, beginning with the Arab conquest of Sicily and parts of Southern Italy in the 9th century. This initial phase of Islamic presence in Italy lasted until the 13th century, when Arab rule was gradually replaced by Norman and other European forces. The second phase of Islamic pres- ence in Italy began in the 1980s, coinciding with a significant influx of Muslim immigrants from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. This wave of immigration has continued since the mid-1990s. Italy's Muslim community exhibits significant diversity in terms of its members' countries of origin. While some immigrants hail from former Italian colonies like Libya, Somalia, and Eritrea, the majority come from countries with no historical ties to Italy, including Morocco, Albania, Tuni- sia, Senegal, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. This diverse origin makes the community a vibrant blend of cultures and traditions. Despite the di- verse origins, Italy's Muslim community is predominantly Sunni, with a shared faith and religious practices. The relatively recent arrival of Muslim immigrants in Italy, combined with a wide spectrum of origins, a relatively small population size, a significant number of undocumented residents, and geographic dispersion, creates unique challenges for the Muslim communi- ty. These factors, along with Islam's inherent lack of a centralized clerical hierarchy, result in weak internal cohesion and a fragmented organizational structure. My article is dedicated to the history of the development of Islam in Italy, the examination of the legal status of Islam in Italy, various Muslim organizations and their legitimacy, as well as the Muslim community.