Lithuanian politicians clash with Mufti over Kaunas mosque control

A political dispute has erupted in Lithuania concerning the Kaunas mosque, with two prominent politicians, Laurynas Kasčiūnas and Vytautas Sinica, clashing with Mufti A. Beganskas, the head of the "second muftiate" which currently manages the mosque. Both Kasčiūnas and Sinica have publicly criticized Beganskas and his community, with Sinica having already appealed to prosecutors to have the mosque, historically belonging to the Tatar community, transferred back to them. Sinica argues that historical justice demands this return, as the mosque was built and gifted to the Tatar community during the interwar period.

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First of all, look, nobody here is afraid of you. If you raise your voice – it will be lowered.

Adding another layer to the conflict, Kasčiūnas, a member of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, has initiated a request for the National Security and Defense Committee to investigate whether Beganskas's muftiate poses a threat to national security. The aim of this investigation is to potentially close down the muftiate, which would prevent them from managing the Kaunas mosque and other places of worship, allowing the state to decide on their future.

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My contacts started on Rūta Mikelkevičiūtė's show on LNK.

Mufti A. Beganskas has strongly refuted these claims, accusing Kasčiūnas and Sinica of engaging in anti-Muslim rhetoric for electoral advantage as elections approach. He cited the Lithuanian Constitution, emphasizing that the state cannot interfere in the affairs of religious communities and vice versa. Beganskas also pointed out that Muslims are invited to Lithuania by employers and universities, and that politicians are wrongly blaming the religious community for their increasing numbers. The dispute highlights tensions surrounding religious freedom, historical claims, and national security concerns within Lithuania.

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Because historical justice demands it. In the interwar period, this mosque was built and donated precisely to the Tatar community.