GETTY STOCK IMAGE The number of Muslims in Italy has increased to nearly two million, according to a new study

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Academics say the number is expected to continue to rise as migrants from Africa and the Middle East continue to arrive. Sociologist Massimo Introvigne, director of the Centre for New Religions Studies (Cesnur), branded the number “shocking”. He said: "This number is shocking also because in 1970 there were only between 2,000 and 3,000." Mr Introvigne said the number of Muslims in Italy is growing rapidly.

Islam is the second biggest religion in Italy behind Catholicism. There are only four official mosques registered with around 2,000 unregistered mosques across the country.

In a bid to ease relations between the Italian authorities and Muslims, Italy set up a Council of Italian Islam to improve integration. But despite being home to Europe’s largest mosque - the Great Mosque of Rome - Islam is not formally recognised by the state leading to a surge in underground places of worship. In September, the Great Mosque of Rome shunned a scheme to open its doors to the public during Eid. It is not the first time the mosque has distanced itself from events to promote solidarity with the church.

GETTY STOCK IMAGE Catholicism is the biggest religion in Italy

The mosque did not take part in a mass after the killing of Father Jacques Hamel by two Islamic terrorists in the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy, despite an Islamic delegation taking part in the service. Based in Turin, Cesnur was established in 1988 by religious scholars from European and American universities. The centre found 245,621 Italian citizens class themselves as Muslims compared to 1,613,500 immigrants in Italy who identify as Muslims. In a study, Cesnur said: “The estimate of 245,621 Italian Muslim citizens is subject to rapid future changes in the case of more rapid access to citizenship for immigrant Muslims. In their great majority, the Italian citizens are not Muslim converts, but "new citizens" who were already Muslims at the time of acquiring citizenship.”

GETTY STOCK IMAGE Sociologist Massimo Introvigne says the number of Muslims in Italy is growing rapidly

GETTY Italy is home to Europe's largest mosque- the Great Mosque of Rome