European Muslim Union Voices Concern Over Anti-Muslim Incidents in Lithuania

European Muslim Union Voices Concern Over Anti-Muslim Incidents in Lithuania
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The European Muslim Union has expressed concern over recent incidents targeting Lithuania’s Muslim community and Islamic religious symbols, calling on authorities and society to confront acts of hatred and intimidation.

According to reports, the organization highlighted two incidents in a statement issued over the weekend. One involved the reported possibility of publicly burning the Quran in Vilnius, while another occurred near a mosque in Kaunas, where motorcyclists allegedly disrupted Muslims’ prayers at Ramybės Park by making loud noise, playing music and displaying a pig’s head.

The European Muslim Union welcomed the response from Lithuanian authorities, including a warning from the country’s State Security Department about an increase in attempts to incite hatred against Muslims in public spaces.

The organization’s president, Alfredo Maiolese, said protecting religious freedom safeguards fundamental values across society. The group also stressed that combating Islamophobia should not be confused with restricting legitimate public debate, adding that issues such as migration, integration and security should not be used to intimidate, humiliate or incite hatred against communities.

The statement comes amid intensified debate in Lithuania over migration policies in recent weeks. The European Muslim Union, a civil society organization founded in Italy in 2010, promotes interfaith and intercultural dialogue and presents Islam as a religion of peace, respect and coexistence.