Police in Venice Raid Mosque During Friday Prayers for Ignoring Coronavirus Rules

Italian police raided a mosque on Friday for ignoring the city’s orders that prohibits events with meetings of people.

There were 290 people inside the mosque and dozens outside waiting for the next function.

Express.co reported:

The raid was carried out today and more than 200 worshippers ordered home. The local council says the Imam in charge, its religious leader, had ignored the city’s new rules about holding meetings because of the risk involved. He has pledged his ignorance of the orders approved in Venice which have also included the closure of museums, schools, libraries, museums and tourist attractions until at least March 2nd. The annual Carnival which attracts up to 200,000 people was also cancelled.

A statement from Venice council confirmed: “This morning in Piazzale Madonna Pellegrina 1, in a room used as a mosque, the Friday religious was being held, with almost 200 people. Inside the rooms located on the ground floor there were about 90 people, while as many were outside waiting for the next function.”

“The intervention of the local police of Mestre, with a team of patrolling agents in the area, interrupted the prayer meeting for non-compliance with the contingent and urgent ordinance of the Ministry of Health and the President of the Region, which prohibits events with meetings of people. The Ordinance also postponed all religious rites.”