With the approval of the City of Gothenburg, Frölunda Mosque has for several years conducted Friday prayers and Quran school in a municipal cultural center that also houses a public library. This is according to a thorough investigation by Doku, which shows how the premises were used by an association whose representatives and imams have spread severe antisemitism, praised terrorist organizations, and expressed support for Adolf Hitler.

The activities have been carried out in Axelhuset at Axel Dahlströms torg in Gothenburg, where Högsbo library is located. According to the foundation Doku, which monitors Islamism in Sweden, Frölunda Mosque has used the premises for regular prayers, religious teaching, and Quran schools – even though bookings with the municipality were formally registered as “meetings” or “education”.

Doku’s reporters describe how over a hundred men gathered for Friday prayers in the foyer and assembly halls. Women generally did not participate at all. On the occasions when they were allowed to attend, they were placed behind heavy curtains, in cramped storage spaces among ladders and building materials.

Statistics from venue bookings show, according to Doku, that 178 activities in the past three years have been aimed at men, while only 18 were for women. The gender segregation is also documented in the mosque’s own social media.

Sermon: The Swedish school described as “filth”

One of the sermons that Doku recorded dealt with the upbringing of Muslim children and how parents should counteract the influence of Swedish society. The imam described the teaching in Swedish schools as something that must be cleansed from children:

Your responsibility is to wash away the filth and the false beliefs they take with them.

The message was that the influence of the secular society must be fought early, otherwise the children risk being shaped by “atheism and doubt”.

Leading figures with ties to Islamism

Doku also maps the mosque’s leadership and the imams who regularly preach at the mosque. According to the investigation, several of them have spread severe hatred of Jews, praised Hamas, defended the death penalty for religious criticism and published antisemitic propaganda on social media.

One of the imams has expressed support for the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, praised Hamas leaders, and called for armed jihad. Another has published Hitler quotes in a positive light and described Jews as a threat to the world. Other preachers have attacked the West, democracy, and women’s rights.

Doku notes that several of these individuals were active long before they met representatives of the municipality.

Social Democratic top politicians present in the mosque

Despite this, leading Social Democratic politicians in Gothenburg have repeatedly participated in meetings at the mosque’s premises. Photos published by Doku show, among other things, City Executive Board Chair Jonas Attenius sitting in a place of honor at a meeting in Axelhuset, together with the mosque’s board and imams.

The meeting took place in front of the curtain behind which women are usually placed during prayer. All those present at the meeting were men.

Attenius also participated in the summer of 2024 in a large Eid celebration organized by Frölunda Mosque, where gender segregation took place without him publicly reacting.

Attenius: “No expressions of antisemitism”

After Doku’s revelations, Jonas Attenius states that this information is new to him. In a comment to Doku he says:

“I have met them once and then there were no expressions of antisemitism.”

At the same time, he emphasizes that antisemitism runs counter to the values of the City of Gothenburg and that there are rules for which associations may access municipal premises.

Doku: Systemic failures in the municipality’s oversight

Doku’s review shows how Frölunda Mosque has been able to conduct extensive religious activities in municipal premises without this being clearly visible in the booking system, while representatives with documented extremist and antisemitic views have had direct contact with the city’s political leadership.

The investigation raises questions about the city of Gothenburg’s supervision of associations, how municipal premises are used – and how political representatives relate to religious environments where anti-democratic and violent ideas occur.