Vilnius mayor opposes mosque construction, calls for stricter migration controls

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas has stated his opposition to plans for building a new mosque in the capital, arguing that migration policy should instead focus on tightening controls, LRT reports.

“I am against the construction of a new mosque in Vilnius. That is my position as the city’s leader,” Benkunskas said in a statement on Monday. He acknowledged that freedom of religion exists in Lithuania and Vilnius but stressed that existing mosques in the country and surrounding areas already serve the Muslim community.

The mayor’s remarks follow criticism from Aleksander Beganski, chairman of the Muftiate Board, who argued that a mosque would encourage Muslims to settle permanently in Lithuania rather than come only for temporary work. Benkunskas countered that migration data shows most arrivals from Muslim-majority countries hold temporary permits, with only a fraction seeking permanent residency.

“Annual data from the Migration Department indicates that thousands of migrants from Islamic countries live here on temporary permits, while only hundreds apply for permanent residence,” Benkunskas said. “Would it not seem illogical to build a mosque for temporary residents?”

He called for stricter migration policies, including mandatory state language learning for those seeking long-term stays, and closing loopholes in the temporary residence system. Currently, Lithuania has four active mosques—one in Kaunas, one in Alytus district, and two in the Vilnius region.

Discussions about constructing a new mosque in Vilnius have been ongoing for over three decades, but no concrete decisions or building permits have been issued to date.