Friday prayers in Monfalcone, Italy, see hundreds of men gathering in a concrete parking lot, kneeling in prayer. They’ve been barred from their cultural centers by the city’s far-right mayor, who cites zoning issues. Rejaul Haq, a local property owner and Bangladeshi immigrant, voices frustration over the perceived harassment, questioning why Muslims can’t have a place of worship like other religious groups.
Mayor Anna Cisint defends the restriction as a matter of urban planning, not discrimination, although she suggests the Muslim population has grown too large for Monfalcone. Her stance has drawn national attention and aligned her with Matteo Salvini’s anti-immigrant League party ahead of European Parliament elections.
Italy’s complex laws around religion make it challenging for Muslims to establish official places of worship, leaving many to pray in makeshift locations. Yahya Zanolo of the Italian Islamic Religious Community highlights the impact on perceptions and integration efforts. Meanwhile, Cisint points to what she sees as resistance to integration within the Muslim community, criticizing cultural practices like teaching Arabic instead of Italian.
Despite legal battles and political rhetoric, Monfalcone’s Muslim residents, primarily employed in the shipbuilding industry, feel the weight of prejudice and hostility. Some worry about the impact on their children’s sense of identity and belonging. As a court decision looms, uncertainty hangs over the community’s future, with concerns that the scars of the conflict will endure beyond the courtroom.
