A newly formed political group seeking to influence Rome’s 2027 municipal elections has triggered widespread controversy after endorsing the inclusion of Arabic in the curriculum of a public high school in the Italian capital, drawing allegations of ideological Islamisation and raising questions over the silence of Catholic leadership.

The group, Muslims for Rome 2027 (MuRo2027), was founded in November by Francesco Tieri, a left-wing activist who later converted to Islam. The organisation has publicly stated that it aims to mobilise Muslim voters in Rome and shape local politics in line with what it describes as its religious identity.

In its founding statement, MuRo2027 said it was inspired by the electoral success of Zohran Mamdani in the United States and claimed that his victory demonstrated the growing political relevance of Muslim communities. Tieri stated that Muslims should no longer be treated as “political objects” but as active political subjects, and that the group intended to advance proposals aligned with its religious affiliation ahead of the Rome local elections.

The group attracted immediate attention after posting an image on Instagram depicting Rome’s Colosseum topped with an Islamic crescent, imagery that critics described as a symbolic assertion of Islamic dominance over Italian civilisation. Jewish and conservative publications warned that the visual messaging appeared to go beyond civic participation and veered into ideological provocation.

Arabic in Roman Schools Sparks Political Row

The controversy intensified on 14 January 2026 when MuRo2027 promoted the decision of the Eugenio Montale Linguistic High School in Rome to introduce Arabic as a third language option, alongside Chinese, French and German. The group publicly defended the move, stating that Arabic was spoken by tens of thousands of residents in Rome and that offering the language reflected inclusive public education.

In its statement, MuRo2027 criticised those opposing the move, arguing that even private Catholic schools offered Arabic and framing opposition as driven by hostility toward foreign-origin communities. The school itself stated that its language offerings were intended to promote engagement with other cultures.

The endorsement drew a strong response from Rossano Sasso, a Member of Parliament from the Lega party, who said he would raise the issue in Parliament. Sasso stated that if an Islamic political group was influencing curriculum choices in public schools, it could represent what he described as creeping Islamisation of Italian society.

Experts Warn of Ideological Drift

Security and counter-terrorism analyst Giovanni Giacalone said Islamist groups appeared to be organising politically to support the left in upcoming elections. He stated that the political left was seeking the Muslim vote and that Islamist networks were becoming increasingly aggressive in political mobilisation and street activism.

Analysts and commentators also cited past warnings by Daniel Pipes, who has argued that Arabic language programmes in public education, particularly when influenced by external organisations, have in other countries served as vehicles for ideological indoctrination rather than neutral language instruction.

Catholic Silence Draws Attention

Amid the growing controversy, the Catholic Church’s leadership in Italy has remained notably silent. No statement has been issued by senior Catholic authorities in Rome or the Vatican addressing the political messaging, symbolism, or the broader implications of a religiously driven political movement asserting itself in the capital of Catholicism.

Italian Jewish publication Bet Magazine Mosaico observed that the slogan “Let’s take Rome” no longer appeared merely rhetorical, warning that the imagery and rhetoric used by MuRo2027 conveyed a clear ideological message. Journalists and analysts noted that the group declined to participate in national television debates while dismissing public scrutiny as excessive.

Calabrian journalist Vincenzo Campanella stated that the Colosseum image represented a symbolic appropriation of one of Italy’s most iconic monuments and conveyed the assertion of Islamic symbols over national heritage.

Political and Security Concerns

Author and publisher Francesco Giubilei said Islamist political movements in Italy appeared to be seeking to replicate models seen in Northern Europe and France, driven by demographic changes. He warned that such movements sought to marginalise Christian symbols, normalise Sharia-influenced politics, and erode Western cultural foundations.

Former Monfalcone mayor and current MEP Anna Maria Cisint stated that MuRo2027 promoted an ideological vision that aspired to replace constitutional principles with Islamic law, posing a direct threat to freedoms, particularly those of women. Fratelli d’Italia MP Federico Mollicone said the group appeared inspired by Islamic law and argued that Quranic injunctions were incompatible with Italian legal principles.

Further scrutiny followed after MuRo2027 issued a statement criticising the arrest of Hamas operative Mohammad Hannoun by Italian police. Italian media reported that Tieri had links to Rome’s Al-Huda Mosque, which has been associated with pro-Hamas clerics.

MuRo2027 Responds

Responding to criticism, Tieri stated that public expressions of religious identity were consistent with Italian secularism and argued that Italy had historically been governed by parties inspired by Catholic values. He claimed that MuRo2027 was not a Muslim lobby but a civic movement seeking to contribute to local politics and the common good and said Muslims’ rights were not fully protected in Italy.

Despite these assurances, critics argue that the group’s rhetoric, symbolism, and political positioning point to a deeper ideological project. As MuRo2027 continues to gain visibility ahead of the Rome elections, observers note that while political and security experts have raised alarms, Catholic leadership has yet to publicly respond.

Source: MeForum

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Muslim Political Party In Rome Promotes Arabic In School Curriculum, Catholic Leadership Silent appeared first on The Commune.