European Muslim League Raises Concern Over Anti-Muslim Incidents in Lithuania
European Muslim League Raises Concern Over Anti-Muslim Incidents in Lithuania
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The European Muslim League (EML) has expressed serious concern over recent incidents targeting Lithuania’s Muslim community and Islamic religious symbols, calling on authorities and society to stand against hatred and intimidation.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the organization highlighted two incidents in September 2026. The first involved the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran in central Vilnius on September 13. The second occurred on September 11, when a group of motorcyclists reportedly disrupted Muslim prayers near a mosque in Kaunas’ Ramybės Park by making loud noises, playing music and displaying a pig’s head.
The league welcomed the response of Lithuanian authorities, including a warning from the State Security Department about growing public incitement of hatred against Muslims. It also cited President Gitanas Nausėda’s remarks that the incidents might not be isolated acts and could have been coordinated.
Alfredo Maiolese, president of the European Muslim League, said that when institutions defend religious freedom, they protect not only one community but also the fundamental values of society as a whole. He stressed that efforts to combat Islamophobia should not be confused with restrictions on legitimate debate in a democratic society.
The organization added that issues such as migration, integration and security should not be used to intimidate or humiliate people or incite hatred against them.
The incidents occurred amid wider public debate over migration in Lithuania. On Saturday, several hundred people gathered at Kudirkos Square in Vilnius to protest what organizers described as “mass immigration,” while more than 100 people held a counter-demonstration across the street in opposition to the rally.
The developments have intensified discussions about religious freedom, anti-Muslim hostility and social tensions in Lithuania, with the league urging authorities and the public to reject hatred and protect the rights of religious communities.
