A claim on an Arabic-language, seemingly Social Democrat-friendly page about millions in support for the mosque construction in Kalmar has sparked a new political dispute and raised questions about the relationship between local politics and religious associations. The Social Democratic local government firmly denies all allegations of municipal funding, but former Sweden Democrat politician Thoralf Alfsson argues that, due to a lack of transparency, documentation, and clear decision paths, suspicions cannot, in his view, be easily dismissed. Meanwhile, the mosque construction has now begun after several million kronor was reportedly raised in a short time.

Samnytt has previously highlighted accusations that there may have been a political agreement regarding the mosque construction in Norrliden, Kalmar. Critical residents have pointed out that an application for land reservation was only submitted after the 2022 election, suggesting that discussions may have occurred before the election.

READ MORE: After the election came the application – now S is accused of secret mosque deal

During that reporting, Samnytt also spoke to Municipal Council Chairman Johan Persson (S), who dismissed the allegations and stated that the process followed standard procedures.

In our previous article, issues of transparency, financing, and decision process have also been raised. The debate concerns how contacts have looked between the municipality and the Muslim association, and whether political promises have been made. Municipal representatives have meanwhile emphasized that the matter was handled in accordance with existing legislation and that no preferential treatment occurred.

An Arabic-language Facebook page where the information about an alleged million-kronor grant from the municipality to the mosque project was published is not just a private profile or discussion group. The page appears to be an Arabic-language information or news channel aimed at residents in the Kalmar area, where local events, social issues, and politics are featured.

SEE ALSO: Confirmed: A new giant mosque to be built in Kalmar

The feed also contains several posts presenting Social Democratic policies and local S representatives in a positive light, including Municipal Council Chairman Johan Persson (S). The fact that the information about the financing is spread through a channel that frequently highlights the party’s message has raised questions about the page’s role and possible political connections.

Thoralf Alfsson is a former Member of Parliament for the Sweden Democrats and local politician in Kalmar. For many years, he has been involved in local issues and today runs his own blog in which he writes about municipal politics, migration, Islamism, and what he describes as shortcomings in transparency and the grant system.

When Samnytt calls up Thoralf Alfsson, we ask about the reports that the S-led municipality allegedly donated a million kronor to the mosque project.

– Johan Persson (S) has already denied that to me. He’s emailed me and said it is a lie, says Alfsson.

SEE ALSO: Social Democrats recruited votes at Muslim mass prayer

Alfsson describes in his blog post that a person active in the Islamic association wrote that there had been a fundraising of a million kronor, in connection with an event they had on 7 February with the Social Democrats.

“Their fundraising can’t be accessed”

Asked if it’s possible to trace the money or gain insight into the finances, Alfsson says it is very difficult in practice.

– No, no. It’s a non-profit association. Their fundraising can’t be accessed in any way, shape, or form.

This is exactly what Egyptson writes about. It really concerns the Muslim Brotherhood, what connections there are in Sweden, and the problem of getting transparency in these different Muslim associations.

Thoralf Alfsson, municipal politician Kalmar

Alfsson says he has tried to find out if minutes or documents from the municipality’s side might shed light on possible contacts, promises, or agreements—but believes that much, if there is anything, lands in informal notes.

SEE ALSO: The giant mosque in Skärholmen: Secret financing, Islamist connections—and concern among residents

– I wondered for a while if there had been minutes or similar. But it’s probably just notes, as they call it. And then they aren’t required to release those, so to speak. That sort of thing doesn’t become a public document.

In the interview, Alfsson broadens the perspective and links the issue of mosque construction in Kalmar to a larger discussion about association structures and transparency, especially regarding the Muslim Brotherhood.

SEE ALSO: Government’s new “democracy condition” for support to be applied equally to all—but agency evades mosque questions

He says he has almost finished reading Sameh Egyptson’s book “Bosättningen” and feels he recognizes patterns.

– I draw parallels here. This is exactly what Egyptson writes about. It really concerns the Muslim Brotherhood, what connections there are in Sweden, and the problem of getting transparency in these different Muslim associations.

He describes an environment where formalities—boards and documentation—are, according to him, often hard to get a grip on.

– These people… have different names, they spell their names differently on different occasions and sometimes use aliases. Exactly the same thing I’m experiencing with the ones in Kalmar. They spell their names differently—sometimes with a hyphen, sometimes two Ws, sometimes two As. It is almost impossible to search for them in the population register, because you have to try various combinations.

“They start associations all the time”

He further describes a pattern he believes he sees—that associations are started and left dormant, sometimes in order to apply for grants.

There were so many errors in their documents and their bookkeeping. You could see they had copied information… my god. And when I brought it up in the municipal council, I was called a racist and xenophobe, mostly by S, V, and MP.

Thoralf Alfsson, municipal politician Kalmar

– They start associations constantly, and sometimes they get no funding. Then the association… it exists on paper, but there is no activity, year after year. But at least it exists on paper.

SEE ALSO: Social Democrat visited Tensta: “Of course we need to build more mosques”

Alfsson says that he believes the incentives in the grant system create a proliferation of associations—women’s groups, study groups, and other constructs.

– I think everything revolves around getting grants. And it’s usually the same core of people on several boards. I think it’s just a way for them to make a living, simply put. It’s a system. Alfsson continues:

– Study circles and study associations had a purpose—popular adult education. And the Islamic groups have exploited all of this. The authorities are too bad at checking and actually demanding documentation.

SEE ALSO: Salafists building mosque in Jämtland: “Fundamentalist and reactionary”

He refers to the fact that during his years in local politics, he scrutinized material and reacted to shortcomings in accounting.

– I saw it, I scrutinized… locally for years. There were so many errors in their documents and accounting. You could tell they’d copied details… my god. And when I brought it up in the municipal council I was called a racist and xenophobe, mainly by S, V, and MP.

Claims no foreign payments—but IBAN and PayPal

Alfsson also describes having had a lengthy meeting with a representative from the Islamic association.

– I have discussed it with the chairman… we sat for 2–3 hours at a café and talked.

He says he asked about foreign financing and that the chairman denied it—but Alfsson reacted to details in the fundraising arrangements.

SEE ALSO: SR campaign: 700 Muslims lack a mosque—‘Feel excluded’

– He denies there was any foreign financing. I asked—why do you have IBAN numbers and PayPal options on your ads then? You don’t need IBAN numbers if all the money is coming from Sweden. And then he had no explanation, he just brushed it off.

Towards the end, Alfsson brings up what he says is the next track—which companies are involved in the construction project, and how they can have such low turnover if they are central to construction and operation.

Is the development in Kalmar a sign of the Islamization of Sweden, as you see it?

– Yes, of course it is.

SEE ALSO: Shocking numbers: 4200% increase in mosques in Sweden—in less than 25 years

He says he will continue to monitor developments on site.

– They have started clearing forest where they’re going to build. I’ll drive past within a week and see if anything’s happening. I’ll keep an eye on which companies are there.

SEE ALSO: Police: The Islamization of Sweden has been going on for 30 years

S-boss: “It’s totally wrong”

Samnytt writes to the municipal council chairman in Kalmar, Johan Persson (S), asking if it is true that the Arabic-language news site in Kalmar is to receive a million kronor from the municipality—and if so, whether it’s tax money or Social Democrat funds.

Persson replies to Samnytt in the afternoon:

“It’s totally wrong. There are no promises of a million either from me, S, or Kalmar municipality. I gave a speech about the importance of religious freedom.”

Mosque construction has started

On Wednesday, the first groundbreaking was made for the new mosque in Kalmar, marking the project’s move from the planning phase to start of construction after several years of preparations and public debate.

The congregation had set a goal to raise 25 million kronor, and so far, about twelve million had been collected—two million of which in recent weeks.

SEE ALSO: Societal shift no one voted for—the concrete traces of Islamization in Sweden