Over 700 Muslims in Hässleholm Observe Ramadan Without Mosque After Building Permit Rejection

Over 700 Muslims in Hässleholm Observe Ramadan Without Mosque After Building Permit Rejection
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More than 700 Muslims in the city of Hässleholm, in Skåne County, Sweden, are observing Ramadan for the second consecutive year without a permanent mosque, following the municipality’s rejection of a building permit application submitted by a local Islamic association.

The Al-Salam and Ihsan Islamic Association said its members lack a permanent venue for daily prayers and communal worship, forcing them to organize Ramadan gatherings in private homes. The association described the situation as an ongoing challenge for the city’s Muslim community.

In 2025, the group formally applied for permission to convert a former locomotive maintenance warehouse into a prayer hall. However, Hässleholm Municipality rejected the request. The association subsequently appealed the decision to the county administrative authority, where the case remains under review.

In the absence of a permanent facility, the association has been renting temporary halls to hold Friday prayers and larger religious events. Representatives say this arrangement is unstable and does not meet the needs of the growing community.

Association member Vegan Ibeishi said the lack of a mosque particularly affects young people, arguing that it contributes to feelings of exclusion and makes practicing religious rituals more difficult as the community seeks formal recognition within the city’s legal framework.