Reverting to Islam in Naples and Campania: Conversions as a Manifestation of Global Islam
In: Studi MagrebiniSearch for other papers by Federica Bucci in
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Abstract
This article explores the phenomenon of religious conversion of Italian people to Islam in Naples and the broader Campania region. Drawing on fieldwork initiated during a Master’s thesis (2021–2022) and expanded through ongoing doctoral research, the study investigates the interplay between religious transformation, identity redefinition, and spatial negotiation in a non-Muslim, Southern European context.
Through semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observation, the paper outlines three main objectives: first, to provide an overview of conversion theories and Islamic theological understandings of what it means to become Muslim; second, to trace the historical role of converts in the development of Neapolitan Islamic associations; and third, to examine personal narratives of conversion as both deeply individual and socially embedded processes.
The article also reflects on how converted individuals re-signify public and private spaces in their daily lives, reshaping their relationship with the urban environment. Particular attention is given to the intersection of gender, language, and religious practice, revealing the complexities faced by converts in spaces lacking inclusivity, such as prayer rooms without women’s areas or Italian-speaking imams. The Neapolitan context emerges as a unique case within global Islam, where local culture, Islamic religiosity, and individual trajectories converge. Ultimately, the study highlights the dynamic and plural forms of Islam being practiced in Naples, emphasizing the importance of recognizing hybrid identities and resisting simplistic narratives of assimilation or cultural rupture.
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Reverting to Islam in Naples and Campania: Conversions as a Manifestation of Global Islam
In: Studi MagrebiniSearch for other papers by Federica Bucci in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
This article explores the phenomenon of religious conversion of Italian people to Islam in Naples and the broader Campania region. Drawing on fieldwork initiated during a Master’s thesis (2021–2022) and expanded through ongoing doctoral research, the study investigates the interplay between religious transformation, identity redefinition, and spatial negotiation in a non-Muslim, Southern European context.
Through semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observation, the paper outlines three main objectives: first, to provide an overview of conversion theories and Islamic theological understandings of what it means to become Muslim; second, to trace the historical role of converts in the development of Neapolitan Islamic associations; and third, to examine personal narratives of conversion as both deeply individual and socially embedded processes.
The article also reflects on how converted individuals re-signify public and private spaces in their daily lives, reshaping their relationship with the urban environment. Particular attention is given to the intersection of gender, language, and religious practice, revealing the complexities faced by converts in spaces lacking inclusivity, such as prayer rooms without women’s areas or Italian-speaking imams. The Neapolitan context emerges as a unique case within global Islam, where local culture, Islamic religiosity, and individual trajectories converge. Ultimately, the study highlights the dynamic and plural forms of Islam being practiced in Naples, emphasizing the importance of recognizing hybrid identities and resisting simplistic narratives of assimilation or cultural rupture.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 128 | 128 | 6 |
| Full Text Views | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 3 | 3 | 2 |
