Stop for Several New Mosque Projects

The plans to build a larger mosque in southern Helsingør appear set to be halted. The municipality’s committee for city, planning, and traffic is expected to decide to halt the project before the matter is finally settled by the municipal council. In Sweden, a new mosque project is also being stopped.

The proposed mosque was to be built on a lot next to the existing mosque and would cover around 1,200 square meters with space for approximately 350 people. Municipal politicians mainly cite traffic and parking problems. Neighbors and local business owners have reportedly already complained about parking chaos during Friday prayers.

The issue is also legally complicated. The current zoning plan in principle allows for a mosque to be built, but there is a specific provision that gives the municipality the opportunity to intervene if a project is deemed so unsuitable that it requires new local planning.

Earlier this year, municipal officials believed the provision could not be applied, but after the summer they changed their assessment and now believe it can form the basis for a stop.

The Social Democrats in Helsingør have also changed their position and now support a halt. The party refers, among other things, to integration problems in the Egevænget district and instead wants to see other types of activities at the site. Among the alternatives is an expansion of a nearby high school, which is also planned to offer vocational training programs.

The Muslim congregation is critical of the municipality’s turnaround. Chairperson Mesut Harman says the association is surprised because both the project and the zoning plan remain unchanged.

– We are very surprised by the municipality’s marked about-face. The project is the same and the zoning plan is the same. The administration previously assessed that the project was in line with the zoning plan. We therefore want to know exactly what has changed.

No from the Land and Environmental Court

In Sweden, a similar mosque establishment was recently also stopped, in Ronneby municipality. The association Gemensam wanted to temporarily change the use of the former Viggen store to a mosque and community center. The municipality’s building committee said no because the proposed use was considered contrary to the zoning plan.

After the county administrative board rejected the association’s appeal, the Land and Environmental Court has now also dismissed it.

The association had, among other things, argued that other industrial premises in Ronneby had previously been allowed to change use to community centers and gyms. According to Sydöstran, however, the court upheld the municipality’s assessment and stated that the decision was well-considered and that the county board had valid grounds for their decision.