Biennale of Venice: Authorities Close Mosque-Installation into Church

Mosque into a Church

(Venice) The mosque installation in a Catholic church is closed. After two weeks of discussions and government intervention by law suits,  the Municipality of Venice said on Thursday the directors of the Icelandic Art Center and the Biennale had their  licenses withdrawn for the Icelandic Pavilion.

A document shows that the use of the church is possible through the owner, "except for initiatives against the Catholic Church". The Icelandic Pavilion, which is responsible for the installation of a mosque in the church of Santa Maria della Misericordia, thus did not have the necessary permissions to set up the "work of art" by the Swiss artist Christoph Büchel (see the Icelandic sacrilege Venice Biennale: Mosque in Church Installed - "Invitation to Islamists to conquer churches").

Iceland Supports Islamization

Muslims who have been immigrating to  Italy for 25 years have quickly appreciated the anti-Catholic provocation by the Republic of Iceland as an opportunity and the greeted the installation  "The Mosque" as a conversion into a real mosque. All with the benevolent support of the leaders of the Icelandic Pavilion and thus the Icelandic Ministry of Culture.

In the church, an Islamic mihrab, an Islamic prayer niche, was built and obscured all Christian symbols by panels with quotations from the Koran. Carpets were lain all over and all visitors were forced to take off their shoes.

"What respect dares Iceland before an Islamic cult einzuforden where it has zero respect for a Catholic place of worship?"

The art historian Alessandro Tamborini protested and filed a complaint (see Venice: art historian protests against "mosque" in the Church and calls the police ). He wanted to know from the responsible director of the Icelandic Pavilion, why he should take off his shoes. "Out of respect," said the latter. "Respect  what?" Tamborini asked."Because it is a place of worship? What kind of religion? By whom?" The person in charge refused to answer. For obvious reasons.

There is a pavilion at the International Art Exhibition, it could not be a place of worship itself. But if it is a place of worship, it is not Islamic, for one would have to take off their shoes, but a Catholic one."  What respect does Iceland dare to demand before an Islamic place, where Iceland has zero respect for a Catholic place of worship?" Said Tamborini to the press.

The officially Lutheran Republic of Iceland had illegally usurped a Catholic church and turned it into a mosque."Irreverent and as contemptuous of all religious feelings as it gets. Those responsible lack any decency," said Tamborini whose media appearance and  interest had thus increased pressure on the authorities.

Church was Profaned by Walling in a mosque

With the authorities, who had  remained tacitly silent through all, have engaged in negotiations with the Patriarch of Venice, since the sacrilege with the opening of the Biennale on May 9 was revealed. These negotiations which led to the closure, which put an end to the sacrilege.

The church of Santa Maria della Misercordia has been private property since 1973. Although privately owned, it was never profaned. At the time of its usurpation as a mosque, it was a holy place was desecrated by Büchel's installation. Use of the Church had been settled at the time of the sale and must not involve initiatives  where attacks are made against the Catholic Church and the sanctity of the place.

Administrative decision rather than political confrontation

Although this is only a preliminary injunction, which could be challenged, reopening seems doubtful. As inspections of police and firefighters report  the "Pavilion" was in a breach of   a whole series of provisions. The construction of the makeshift mosque didn't even include required toilettes, while access restrictions had not been respected and above all Islamic prayer events were carried out and have been announced, although it is not an Islamic place of worship.

The authorities are trying to clarify the matter with administrative issues, thereby avoiding  facing the real question: the question of the relationship between Islam and Christianity, between Islam and Europe and its laws and customs. This debate currently does not seem to be possible in Europe. So fundamental political, social, cultural and legal policy questions are being handled by administrative channels.

And what about the European auxiliary forces of Islam, such as the Republic of Iceland, which has also abused the hospitality in another country?

Art historian filed charges against Swiss artist and Icelandic Foreign Minister

The pugnacious art historian Alessandro Tamborini is thus not satisfied. He reported on Thursday there will also be charges against those responsible for the sacrilege and the mosque installation of Swiss artist Christoph Büchel and against the Icelandic Foreign Minister, which was carried out by the Icelandic Pavilion, an official body of the Scandinavian country, for the desecration of a Catholic church.

With the fall and the relations with Iceland,  the Italian Parliament will soon have to deal because of urgent requests were introduced to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (Democratic Left Party) and Interior Minister Angelino Alfano (New center-right).

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Nuova Venezia (Screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

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