A referendum will decide whether a mosque is to be built by the Tower of Pisa

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Yesterday, 1,800 signatures were collected against the Islamic place of worship - the number needed for a vote to take place.

Italian journalist and politician Magdi Allam called the referendum “the Italian revolution” and he said Pisans did not expect to get 1,800 signatures.

Vice-chairman of the committee against the construction of the new mosque, Gianluca Gambini, said: “And we will not stop here - because we expect to get to a higher number of signatures, at least two thousand, to avoid problems with the council.