Italy Probes Islamic Arbitration Body Amid Fears of Parallel Justice
The creation of an Islamic arbitration body in Padua has sparked controversy in Italy. Souad Sbai, a former Italian MP born in Morocco, fears the emergence of a parallel justice system that could threaten women’s rights. Prosecutors have opened an inquiry.
“There are no parallel rules; there is Italian law.” Souad Sbai does not mince words. The former Italian MP of Moroccan origin is calling on the government to intervene against the Islamic arbitration body established in Padua. In an interview with Il Riformista, reported on October 10 by Dire News Oggi, she denounced the risk of religious principles being brought to bear in the resolution of private disputes.
Born in Mohammedia, Souad Sbai served in the Italian Parliament from 2008. As president of the Association of Moroccan Women in Italy, she has campaigned in particular against violence against women and the forced wearing of the veil. This Sunday, October 11, Radio Radicale devoted another interview to her about the Padua case.
At the heart of the controversy is a private association established on March 3, 2026. Called the Camera Arbitrale Islamica Italiana, it offers to resolve civil and commercial disputes based on the principles of sharia. Its rules notably provide for the use of rules inspired by Islamic law in certain arbitration proceedings.
For Souad Sbai, the problem lies in the status given to these rules. In an op-ed published on October 8, she accuses the body of placing religious precepts ahead of Italian law. She is also concerned about the pressure that could be brought to bear on the most vulnerable, particularly women.
Italian prosecutors examine the case
The former parliamentarian is calling for a government decree to prevent bodies that do not respect constitutional principles from operating. She emphasizes in particular equality between men and women, noting that, in her view, religious rules cannot replace the rights guaranteed by Italian law.
The founder of the arbitration body, lawyer Omar Vanin, disputes this interpretation. In comments to the ANSA news agency, he says his organization is not a court and complies with Italian law. He rules out any involvement in family matters, such as marriage or parentage, and says no arbitration decision has yet been issued.
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The Italian justice system has nevertheless taken up the case. On October 8, Padua prosecutor Angelantonio Racanelli announced that a preliminary inquiry had been opened following a report. No suspects or offenses have been identified at this stage. Prosecutors are to examine the association’s activities and whether they comply with the Italian legal framework.
The controversy has also divided Muslim organizations. The Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (UCOII) has distanced itself from the arbitration body, saying its promoters had received no mandate from the communities it represents. It stresses that family matters and fundamental rights cannot be submitted to private arbitration and that justice is the responsibility of the Republic’s courts.