Mirco Quaggiotto of Alte di Montecchio [Vicenza, Veneto] is a supporter of the anti-immigration Northern League and has a brother who is Leghista politician but this has not stopped him from seizing a business opportunity involving local Muslims: Mr Quaggiotto has been renting out his garage to a group of mostly Bengali Muslim men who at first used it as a play space for their children but are now using it as a mosque.
“I’m not racist”, Mr Quaggiotto told Il Messagero Veneto-Giornale del Friuli, “and besides, they pay in cash”.
A spokesman for the Vicenza Northern League has said that Mr Quaggiotto is not a party member and that, although branch committee members are happy that he supports their ideas, he should be aware that they are not a racist party.
He added that Mr Quaggiotto is free to rent out his garage as he pleases, provided he complies with local regulations on the building’s use. These will now be checked.
