Newsletters
The Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) mosque in the northeastern Italian city of Trieste has become a shared place of worship for Muslims from around 15 countries, serving not only Türkiye's community but also worshippers from the Balkans, Arab countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The mosque, which has been operating since January 2025, is the seventh and newest mosque run by the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs, known as DITIB, in Italy. The organization also operates mosques in Como, Milan, Modena, Imperia, Venice and Verona.
Nurullah Alagoz, the religious official at the Trieste mosque, said the two-story building covers around 350 square meters and is supported largely by the local Turkish community, which includes about 40 to 60 families.
"Besides our Muslim brothers and sisters from the Balkans and the Arab world, we have a congregation from Pakistan, Bangladesh and many others, almost 15 Islamic countries in total. They take part in the five daily prayers," Alagoz said.
Because much of the congregation is of working age, attendance remains relatively limited during daytime prayers, while morning and evening prayers tend to draw more worshippers.
Participation rises sharply for Friday prayers and during Eid, the major Muslim religious holidays. Around 350 to 400 people attend Friday prayers, where sermons are delivered in both Turkish and Italian.
The mosque cannot accommodate the larger crowds that turn up for Eid prayers, prompting the community to hold them at a football stadium, where attendance reaches around 1,000 people.
Alagoz said the mosque remains active throughout the year, seven days a week.
Beyond worship, the mosque also provides weekend lessons on Islamic studies and Turkish culture. Around 60 children take part in the classes, while the total number of students can rise to between 80 and 100 when adults are included.
The mosque also runs Quran and Islamic studies classes in English for young people from other national backgrounds who can communicate in the language.
Women use the upper floor of the mosque outside Friday and Eid prayers.
Alagoz said some Muslims living in Trieste work in the gastronomy sector and at the city's port, while others pass through the area as part of logistics and transportation work.
Truck drivers, including those informed about the mosque by Turkish workers at the port, also stop by for Friday and Eid prayers when their schedules allow.
The mosque also draws visitors during the summer months, including Muslims traveling from the Balkans and other parts of Europe who find the mosque through Google and come to visit.
Bilal Ozturk, religious services attaché at Türkiye's Consulate General in Milan, said the mosque enables Türkiye to provide Turkish and Muslim communities with a place of worship and religious guidance even in more distant parts of Italy.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
