Aarhus municipality notifies Al-Furqan Mosque of the possibility of its closure and the banning of its religious activities.
According to TV2, the Aarhus municipality intends to close the Al-Furqan Mosque after investigations revealed its religious activities were illegal. For the first time, a Danish municipality is attempting to use a new law to close a mosque. On Thursday, the municipality sent a notice to the mosque's administrators stating its intention to cease religious activities there, citing the lack of a proper license. This information was obtained by TV2.
This decision is part of the implementation of a new law amended earlier this year, which grants municipalities the right to prohibit the use of buildings for religious purposes. According to Islam expert Lena Kuhl, speaking to TV2, this is the first time this law has been used to close a mosque. She added, "This represents a new and decisive direction, as municipalities now have the tools to ban religious activities in specific locations.".
The mosque is illegal.
According to the Aarhus municipality, its decision is based on an investigation by TV2 in July, which revealed that the mosque was being operated in a building licensed only to run a barbecue restaurant. The municipality deemed the religious activities taking place at the mosque illegal, according to statements made by municipal officials to TV2.
The mosque has also faced criticism for collecting donations using a permit belonging to an organization called the "Women's Cultural Association." According to experts interviewed by TV2, this association owns the building, and the imam's son, Abu Bilal, who works at the mosque, serves as its president.
Abu Bilal, who leads the mosque's prayer, had previously stirred controversy when he appeared in a 2016 TV 2 documentary teaching women in another mosque about Sharia laws relating to adultery, which include flogging and stoning, as revealed in the program.
Al-Furqan Mosque
According to reports, the mosque is known as “Masjid al-Furqan” and is operated via social media by a group called “Markaz Da’wah al-Furqan.” A 2023 report by Aarhus University states that the mosque is run by a group of young people aged 19 to 24, and is overseen by Imam Abu Bilal, whom the report describes as a controversial figure.
The data shows that the mosque opens its doors for daily prayers and attracts between 15 and 20 worshippers on regular days, while the number reaches 80 or 90 worshippers during Friday prayers. In addition to prayers, the mosque organizes lectures and social events, according to the report.
Municipality's response
Following an investigation by TV2, the Aarhus municipality clarified that it does not intend to grant a building permit for the mosque. According to statements made by municipal officials to TV2, the municipality is basing its decision on a new law prohibiting religious activities at the address in question. If the legal situation is not rectified, the association will have to cease all activities at the building.
Concerns about “parallel societies”
The mosque's administrators have until November 1st to submit their statement before the municipality makes a final decision on the closure, according to statements made by municipal officials to TV 2.
Criticism of fundraising
Al-Furqan Mosque has faced criticism for collecting donations through the "Women's Culture" association, which claimed the funds were being raised for cultural activities, while in reality they were being used for the mosque's benefit. According to lawyer and fundraising expert Henrik Bonnet, speaking to TV2, this practice violates fundraising laws.
The possibility of the mosque closing
Although a final decision has not yet been made, Aarhus Mayor for Technical and Environmental Affairs, Nikolai Bang, told TV2 that he does not believe there is any chance the mosque will remain open. He added: “The legal process must go through, but the political will is clear: the mosque must be closed.”.
This decision is partly due to social concerns about the emergence of “parallel societies” in the Telst area of Aarhus, Bang explained to TV 2.
Refusal to acknowledge that the building is a mosque
On the other hand, the association, through its lawyers, tried to convince the municipality that the building was not a mosque, but was only occasionally used for prayer by some Muslim members. However, after a site visit, the municipality told TV2 that it was convinced the ongoing religious activities confirmed the building was being used as a mosque.
Expert opinion
Religious affairs expert Lena Kuhl explained to TV 2 that claims that the building is not a mosque are hard to believe given the religious activities that take place there regularly.
