12.02.2025 / Perspectives

Although both Italy and Romania formally guarantee religious freedom, the practical challenges faced by religious minorities differ significantly. In Italy, limitations stem mainly from bureaucratic obstacles and the lack of official recognition for some religious communities, such as the Islamic community. […] In Romania, however, the main problem lies in institutional favoritism towards the Orthodox Church, which not only monopolizes public funds, but also creates a hostile environment for religious minorities. Despite their differences, both countries share a common challenge: the need to balance respect for dominant religious traditions with the promotion of an inclusive environment for all denominations. This balance is crucial not only to guarantee individual rights, but also to promote social cohesion.

Author: Giuseppe Caruso, M.A. Candidate

Religious freedom is one of the fundamental rights enshrined in international instruments, included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. However, its concrete application varies considerably between countries and is influenced by specific historical, cultural, and political contexts. This article analyses the limitations to religious freedom in Italy and Romania, highlighting the most emblematic cases that illustrate the challenges faced by religious minorities in the two countries.

In Italy, the Constitution, through Article 19, guarantees religious freedom: “Everyone has the right to freely profess his or her religious faith in any form, individually or in association, to propagate it and to worship in private or in public, as long as it is not contrary to morality”. However, the practical application of this principle is often complex, especially for minority religious communities.

One of the main obstacles concerns the construction of places of worship. In particular, Muslim communities face considerable difficulties due to the lack of an official agreement with the Italian State. Without this agreement, obtaining permits to build mosques becomes extremely complicated. Many communities are forced to worship in improvised spaces, such as garages or warehouses, which are often inadequate and subject to closure by local authorities.

A case in point occurred in Venice in 2016, when the project for the construction of a mosque was officially blocked for urban planning and cultural heritage protection reasons. However, Muslim communities perceived the decision as a form of discrimination, considering that other religious denominations did not face similar obstacles^[1]. According to the Centre for the Study of New Religions,^[2] Italy is home to approximately 1.67 million foreign Muslims and 493,000 Italian Muslims, representing 3.6% of the population. Despite these numbers, the lack of adequate official mosques not only limits freedom of worship, but also fuels the social and cultural marginalization of Islamic communities.

This phenomenon highlights the need for a more inclusive approach by Italian institutions to ensure authentic religious freedom. Another aspect that complicates the picture is public opinion. Often, prejudices against Muslim communities are fuelled by political discourses that associate Islam with security and integration problems. This social climate not only hinders interreligious dialogue, but also contributes to reinforcing cultural barriers.

Romania also formally guarantees religious freedom through Article 29 of the Constitution, which states: “Freedom of thought, opinion, and religious freedom may not be restricted in any way”. However, in practice, there are significant disparities in the treatment of different religious denominations, mainly due to the predominant role of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church enjoys a privileged status, rooted in the country’s history and national identity. This favoritism manifests itself in various ways, including the allocation of substantial public funds for the construction and maintenance of Orthodox churches, while other religious denominations receive little to no contributions.

For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses, a religious minority in Romania, suffered significant discrimination. Historically, during the communist regime, Jehovah’s Witnesses were banned, and many members were arrested on charges such as public incitement, distribution of forbidden material, and conspiracy against the social order. Furthermore, in 1996, the influence of the Romanian Orthodox Church led the authorities to cancel an international convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses planned in Bucharest. Furthermore, in 2000, fourteen young members faced legal proceedings for refusing both compulsory military service and the alternative of community service, initially receiving suspended sentences that were later overturned by the Supreme Court of Justice.^[3] These episodes reflect institutional discrimination that undermines the principle of equality enshrined in the Romanian Constitution. The European Commission has repeatedly criticized Romania for its treatment of religious minorities, emphasizing the need to take concrete measures to guarantee real freedom of worship for all citizens.

A further problem concerns religious instruction. In Romanian public schools, religious instruction is often exclusively oriented towards Orthodox Christianity, with little attention paid to other denominations. This approach not only excludes minorities, but perpetuates an educational system that is unrepresentative of the country’s cultural and religious diversity.

Although both Italy and Romania formally guarantee religious freedom, the practical challenges faced by religious minorities differ significantly. In Italy, limitations stem mainly from bureaucratic obstacles and the lack of official recognition for some religious communities, such as the Islamic community. This leads to difficulties in building places of worship and, consequently, to religious practice often being confined to unsuitable spaces. In Romania, however, the main problem lies in institutional favoritism towards the Orthodox Church, which not only monopolizes public funds, but also creates a hostile environment for religious minorities. Despite their differences, both countries share a common challenge: the need to balance respect for dominant religious traditions with the promotion of an inclusive environment for all denominations. This balance is crucial not only to guarantee individual rights, but also to promote social cohesion.

Thus, the analysis of the two national contexts highlights how religious freedom, although formally guaranteed, can be conditioned by cultural, historical, and political factors. In Italy, it is crucial for the State to promote greater inclusiveness through the official recognition of minority religious communities and the simplification of bureaucratic processes for the construction of places of worship. This would not only improve the quality of life of minorities, but also foster deeper social integration. In Romania, addressing institutional favoritism towards the Orthodox Church is a crucial challenge. Ensuring a fair distribution of public resources and taking measures against local discrimination are indispensable steps to promote real equality between religious denominations. Moreover, it would be desirable to revise school curricula to include a more balanced representation of the different religious traditions present in the country.

It is essential to remember that religious freedom is not only a human rights issue, but also an indicator of the democratic maturity of a society. Italy and Romania still have a long way to go to ensure that this right is fully respected and protected, regardless of the religious denomination of their citizens. In this sense, cooperation with international organizations and interreligious dialogue can be key tools to foster greater openness and mutual understanding.

Departments: FRI Media Lab; Society, Crisis, and Resilience Program; Policy Analysis and Outreach Department; Research Department; Center on Global Affairs and Post Development.

Regions: Europe, Romania.

Themes:  Cities; Civic Engagement; Civil Society; Communism and Totalitarianism; Democracy and Democratization; European Union; Freedom of Expression; Human Rights; Media and Journalism; Social Inequalities.