Venice Mayor Rejects Grand Mosque Plan in Mestre, Cites Integration Concerns

Venice Mayor Simone Venturini has firmly rejected a proposal for a large mosque in Mestre, emphasizing that while dialogue on places of worship is open, grand projects are not in the city's interest. The plan, which envisioned an 8,000-square-meter site with a 20-meter-high building to accommodate over a thousand worshippers and an estimated cost of 10 to 15 million euros, requires a change in land use that the mayor opposes.

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There is always a way out and on my part there is total willingness to dialogue. My door is open, my goal is to find a meeting point.

Venturini stated his administration is willing to engage in dialogue to find common ground but criticized the project's promoters for polarizing the debate. "One of the errors that the representative of the community made, who does not represent all the Muslim population nor all the Bangladeshi population of Venice, was wanting to polarize the debate," he said. The mayor stressed that the issue is administrative and civic, urging for it to be managed without "factions."

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One of the errors that the representative of the community made, who does not represent all the Muslim population nor all the Bangladeshi population of Venice, was wanting to polarize the debate.

The mayor also pointed to his campaign commitment, which explicitly stated that a discussion about a large mosque in the heart of Mestre was not in the city's interest. He differentiated his stance from previous administrations and political campaigns, noting that while he is open to discussing "moderate, sober places of worship, consistent with the city," he will not support extravagant designs. He also criticized the Democratic Party for attempting to include Bangladeshi candidates in their lists during the election campaign, which he believes further inflamed the city's climate.

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In my program it was written that the discussion on a large mosque in the heart of Mestre was not in the interest of the city and an administrator respects their commitments.

Addressing broader integration issues, Venturini stated, "I believe that the Bangladeshi community, besides asking for something, should start a path of integration." He emphasized the importance of discussing not only rights but also duties. The mayor expressed concern that the community's significant size could lead to self-segregation, suggesting that a focus on mutual responsibilities is crucial for successful integration into the city.

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The right to worship is sacred but it does not mean that anyone can do whatever they want by building buildings that do not respect the rules.