Venice rejects €20 million Islamic center project

The Bangladeshi Muslim community in Venice, organized through the association ‘Giovani per l’Umanità’, is threatening strikes and street protests following the rejection of a major Islamic center project in Mestre.

The proposed €20 million cultural center, located on 8,000 square meters near the Mestre railway station, was intended to include a prayer hall, library, educational facilities, an auditorium, and parking. However, Mayor Simone Venturini has refused the necessary zoning changes to convert the land from commercial to religious use, citing the project’s scale and insufficient integration of the Bengali community, including language barriers and low female participation in local life.

Prince Howlader, leader of ‘Giovani per l’Umanità’, has stated that a strike among Bengali workers could significantly impact the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, as well as the local tourism, restaurant, and hotel sectors. While Howlader cites constitutional religious freedom, some members of the Bengali community have publicly distanced themselves from the strike threat, expressing a preference for dialogue to avoid damaging the local economy.