League Wants Anti-Mosque Law: 'We Will Propose It in Parliament,' but New Requests Emerge in Veneto

The League is intensifying its campaign against the construction of new mosques, announcing its intention to introduce legislation in Parliament to halt further Islamic settlements. This initiative comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding a proposed mosque in Mestre, a city with a significant Bangladeshi community.

Matteo Salvini, a prominent figure in the League, has signaled his intent to visit Venice to reiterate the party's opposition. The League's proposed law aims to pause the establishment of new mosques until a comprehensive national framework and an agreement between the Italian state and the Muslim community are finalized. This stance is partly a reaction to the Mestre project, where the mayor of Venice, Simone Venturini, has stressed the need for concrete integration measures before addressing the issue of new prayer spaces.

However, the situation in the Veneto region is complex. While the League pushes for restrictions, new, unofficial requests for Islamic places of worship are reportedly surfacing. In Padua, for instance, there are indications of such demands. The Mestre mosque controversy itself has a history, with discussions preceding recent municipal elections. Prince Howlader, a visible member of the Bangladeshi community in Venice, had previously considered running for office with Fratelli d’Italia, a candidacy that reportedly stalled due to the mosque debate.

Sociologist Gianfranco Bettin distinguishes between the right to worship and potential rule violations, arguing that individual transgressions should not lead to the criminalization of an entire community. He asserts that the constitutional and human rights to a place of worship cannot be rejected outright, suggesting that if a specific project or location is unsuitable, alternative urban planning solutions should be explored. The League's hardline position, however, has been met with potential threats of industrial action, which party officials are reportedly flagging to authorities as "wild blockades."