Closed the Icelandic pavilion of the Biennale that church became … – El Universal (Venezuela)

 THE UNIVERSAL
 

Friday May 22, 2015 10:48 a.m.

.- Rome Iceland Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, an old Catholic church converted into a mosque, was closed today after the City Council considers that the country did not submit the necessary permits to hold it open.

This was confirmed Efe a source of the Venetian City Council, recalling that it is the oldest Catholic church of St. Mary of Mercy, of Byzantine origin, which is not used religious purposes since 1969 and is privately owned since 1973.

Now it has been transformed by Swiss artist Christoph Büchel at a mosque in the framework of the International Art Exhibition in Venice 2015.

The intention was to expose that there is a place of worship in Venice for the hundreds of Muslims living in the city and its surroundings, he explained the artist himself was quoted by Italian media.

Today, 13 days after the Biennial opened its doors to the public, the flag of Iceland has been closed.

The general director of the City Council, Marco Agostini, said the curator of the pavilion, Magnufdottar Nina has not submitted the necessary documents for permission and that this old Catholic church now celebrate the Muslim worship.

In addition, the municipality believes that the church is still a sacred place, despite that is privately owned for more than four decades ago.

This morning, the Municipal Police approached the vicinity to evict people who were inside the mosque and to close its doors without to happen any significant alternated.