Islamophobia is characterized by a hatred against the religion of Islam and those perceived to be following the religion, typically fueled by fear and hatred and sustained through the evolving stereotype of the Muslim identity.[1] It has become increasingly common and widespread throughout the world, in particular since the September 11 attacks in the United States, however it existed in society before this.[1] In Europe, there has been an increase in cultural tensions between national majorities and marginalized Muslim countries,[2] as shown by the results of the 2009 elections in the European Parliament with a large vote toward anti-immigration.[3] Within Italy, there is a large Islamic presence of approximately 1.25 million people,[2] stemming from the widespread migration and settlement that began in the 1970s, in particular from North Africa. The Islamic population of Italy increasingly faces challenges when it comes to their position in society, with the increasing cultural hostility that stems from the growing presence of Islamophobia. Islamophobia has been present within Italy for many years; for example, in the 1920s, Muslims were not permitted to settle in the country due to their religion being viewed as "against common morality."[4] The intensity of Islamophobia in Italy is enhanced by the historical religious structure of the state – which is heavily based on the Catholic Church.[5]