European Muslim League warns of anti-Muslim incidents in Lithuania

The European Muslim League has expressed concern over recent incidents targeting Lithuania’s Muslim community and religious symbols, LRT reported.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the organisation cited two incidents. In Vilnius, the Quran, Islam’s central religious text, was allegedly burned in public. In Kaunas, bikers arrived during prayers at a mosque in Ramybės Park, displayed a pig’s head, played loud music and revved their motorcycles.

The league said it welcomed the response from Lithuanian institutions, including a State Security Department warning about increased public incitement against Muslims. It also cited President Gitanas Nausėda’s comment that the incidents might not be isolated cases but organised actions.

“When institutions take action to defend religious freedom, they protect not only one community but the fundamental values of society as a whole,” the league’s chairman, Alfredo Maiolese, said.

The organisation said efforts to combat Islamophobia should not be confused with restricting debate in a democratic society. But it added that immigration, integration and security should not be used to intimidate, humiliate or promote hatred.

The European Muslim League is a non-governmental organisation founded in Italy in 2010. It says its aims include presenting Islam as a religion of peace, respect and coexistence, promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and helping prevent religious conflicts.

On Saturday, several hundred people protested against “mass immigration” in Vilnius, while more than 100 people held a counter-protest across the street. Migration Department figures show that 226,999 foreign nationals held residence permits in Lithuania in September. The largest groups were citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Uzbekistan and India.