Evicted from their 7-year home in Milan’s former public baths which will become a mosque

 

Evicted from their home of seven years in a former Milan public bath to become a mosque

For the past seven years, a dilapidated former public bath on Milan's Via Esterle, an imposing building bearing the scars of time on its tired facade, has been home to a group of migrants and low-wage workers who live and work legally in Italy. That changed this week when local authorities forcibly evicted them after the building was sold to be converted into a mosque.

Built in 1928, during Italy's Fascist years, the building was later converted into a button factory and mechanic school before being abandoned in 1999 and occupied in 2016 by a group of migrants who decided to make it their home.

Over the years, the group has grown to about 40 people in their 30s, mostly African and Muslim, although some have said Italians also live there, according to Italian media. While all can legally find employment in Italy, most can only find seasonal or temporary work that doesn't pay enough to afford rent in Milan. They are Deliveroo drivers, cooks, factory, agricultural and warehouse workers.

And while the former public baths are falling into disrepair, the building still offers migrants beds, showers, kitchens, bathrooms and even a place to pray. Once notified by the city authorities that they had to vacate the building for the construction of a new mosque, residents of the former spa complained and accused Milan of "selling out" its residents. is an example of the city "not wanting to see its poor or let them see them".

But despite protests and solidarity from local activists, the group was evicted on Tuesday. Now they fear they will be forced into homelessness. One of the former residents said that none of them could afford to find a place to rent, “that's why it's a home for us. To rent a place, we have to wait years to have the right documents, we need a contract for an indefinite period, while we have a temporary job for 2 to 6 months." "In Milan, if you are a foreigner and you want to rent a house, you have to have an Italian guarantor. "

Local authorities said they would intervene to help families with minors find a new home, but would not help the others because they were occupying the building illegally. Asfa Mahmoud, president of the organization that won the contract to build the mosque over the former spa, said earlier that he hoped local authorities would find a solution to house the residents.

“We hope that the city authorities will find a solution for these people, we don't want to have a war between the poor. We want to enter Via Esterle in a peaceful way,” he said. It did not happen. The mosque, which will be the first legal mosque in the city, will be built in one of the most multicultural neighborhoods in Milan.

In a city steeped in history and culture like Milan, change is inevitable. Once a symbol of community and shared experiences, Milan's former public baths are now undergoing a remarkable transformation into a mosque. The shift has not been without its problems, and for some residents who have called the spa home for seven years, eviction has been a difficult reality. In this article, we will explore the journey of these inhabitants and the evolving landscape of the former public baths of Milan, focusing on the "Former Mosque of the Public Baths of Milan".

Milan's former public baths have a rich history and have served as a center of communal activity and leisure for decades. However, in recent years the building has undergone significant changes when a group of residents decided to make it their home. This unconventional living arrangement lasted seven years and transformed the spa into a vibrant community center for these individuals.

Change was on the horizon when plans emerged to convert the building into a mosque. Milan's diverse population meant an urgent need for a larger place of worship for the Muslim community, and this historic site provided the perfect solution. However, the eviction of the residents was not a simple process, leading to a complex legal battle.

Evicting the residents from the former public baths was a challenging process that required careful consideration of various legal aspects. The historical significance of the property, its status as a public space and the rights of the residents, all had to be carefully considered when making a decision.

The legal battle revolved around property rights, preservation and freedom of religion. The municipality had a responsibility to ensure the preservation of the historical heritage of the building while meeting the religious needs of the Muslim community. This balancing act led to lengthy negotiations and court proceedings.

After a lengthy legal process, it was decided to proceed with the conversion of the former public baths into a mosque. While the result was met with joy by Milan's Muslim community, it also meant that residents who had called the spa home for seven years had to find alternative accommodation.

Residents were offered support in finding new housing and the municipality tried to facilitate their transition. Despite the challenges they faced during the eviction process, many of them understood the importance of adapting to the religious needs of Milan's growing Muslim community.

The transformation of Milan's former public baths into a mosque is a complex and evolving story that encapsulates the changing face of the city. While evicting residents was undoubtedly a difficult process, it was necessary to balance historic preservation and religious freedom. The former public bath will now serve as a place of worship for Milan's Muslim community, adding to the city's rich cultural diversity. This journey highlights the importance of finding solutions that meet the needs of a growing and diverse population while respecting the city's historic heritage.

In this article, we explored the transformation of Milan's former public baths into a mosque and the problems the residents faced during their eviction. This process highlights the delicate balance between preserving historic sites and meeting the evolving needs of a diverse community.