Ownership of the largest mosque in Scandinavia – Islamic Center in Malmoe – has been taken over by the Libyan organization World Islamic Call Society.
The mosque was in heavy debt after an arson incident in 2003. The founder and chairman of the Islamic Center, Bejzat Becirov, says he could see no other options than to take the offer from the Libyan organization – which also contributed to Islamic Center when it was founded in the early 1980s.
Professor emeritus Jan Hjärpe believs this can be an attempt to counter Muammar Khaddafi’s bad reputation amongst many Muslims in the diaspora. Hjärpe doesn’t believe the change in ownership will effect mosque activities.
