Europe and Islam have 'compatibility' problem, says Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

She made the statement during an event hosted by her Brothers of Italy party.

It was also attended by UK PM Rishi Sunak and billionaire Elon Musk.

"I believe that there is a problem of compatibility between Islamic culture and the values and rights of our civilization," Meloni told reporters on camera on Saturday (December 16, 2023), according to a video shared by Radio Genoa as quoted by Fox Business.

She also criticised Saudi Arabia's rigid Sharia law.

"The Islamic cultural centers in Italy are financed by Saudi Arabia, where Sharia is in force. In Europe there is a very Islamization process distant from the values of our civilization," she said.

UK PM Rishi Sunak said the issue of illegal migration threatens to 'overwhelm' Europe.

Speaking to Italian conservatives at an event in Rome, the prime minister said "enemies" could use immigration as a "weapon" by "deliberately driving people to our shores to try to destabilise our society", reported Sky News.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Rome on December 16.

"The leaders agreed on the vital importance of tackling the scourge of illegal migration and the shared sense of urgency that they feel on this issue," read a statement issued by UK PM's office.

They welcomed progress to date and agreed to intensify joint UK, Italian and Albanian activity to tackle Organised Immigration Crime, including law enforcement cooperation. 

The leaders discussed the new asylum agreements that each country has established to prevent illegal migration.