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Fire Damages Another Islamic Worship Center in Sweden Fire Damages Another Islamic Site in Sweden
(about 7 hours later)
Berlin — A basement room used as a place of worship by Muslims in a southern Swedish town was destroyed by a fire on Monday, officials and the imam for the town said. It was the second time this week that an Islamic worship center was damaged by a fire in Sweden, where a far-right party with an anti-immigration stance has been gaining support and influence. BERLIN — A basement room used as a place of worship by Muslims in a southern Swedish town was destroyed by a fire on Monday, officials and the imam for the town said. It was the second time in the past week that an Islamic worship center was damaged by a fire in Sweden, where a far-right party with an anti-immigration stance has been gaining support and influence.
A statement from the police in the county of Skane said they were investigating possible causes, including arson. The fire broke out early Monday in the basement of an apartment block in Eslov, about 20 miles northeast of Malmo, a city of about 260,000 in southern Sweden. No one was injured in the fire, which was quickly extinguished, the police said.A statement from the police in the county of Skane said they were investigating possible causes, including arson. The fire broke out early Monday in the basement of an apartment block in Eslov, about 20 miles northeast of Malmo, a city of about 260,000 in southern Sweden. No one was injured in the fire, which was quickly extinguished, the police said.
For decades, Sweden has been among the most welcoming European countries for refugees from around the world, but in recent years that tradition of openness has been tested as the influx has strained the welfare system, schools and housing. As a result, the right-wing Sweden Democrats party, which campaigns on an anti-immigration platform, has become the country’s third largest.For decades, Sweden has been among the most welcoming European countries for refugees from around the world, but in recent years that tradition of openness has been tested as the influx has strained the welfare system, schools and housing. As a result, the right-wing Sweden Democrats party, which campaigns on an anti-immigration platform, has become the country’s third largest.
The party this month nearly toppled the center-left government of Prime Minister Stefan Löfven by voting with the center-right against the national budget. Over the weekend, Mr. Lofven reached a deal with the center-right by adopting its budget, thus avoiding early elections that could have strengthened the Sweden Democrats. The party this month nearly toppled the center-left government of Prime Minister Stefan Lofven by voting with the center-right against the national budget. Over the weekend, Mr. Lofven reached a deal with the center-right by adopting its budget, thus avoiding early elections that could have strengthened the Sweden Democrats.
That deal came just after five people were injured in a Christmas Day fire in a mosque in Eskilstuna, near Stockholm, which the authorities also suspect may have been arson.That deal came just after five people were injured in a Christmas Day fire in a mosque in Eskilstuna, near Stockholm, which the authorities also suspect may have been arson.
Samir Muric, an imam who leads the Muslim community in Eslov, where Monday’s fire broke out, said that local politicians had offered his congregation of about 100 an alternate place of worship and that supporters had organized a demonstration for Tuesday.Samir Muric, an imam who leads the Muslim community in Eslov, where Monday’s fire broke out, said that local politicians had offered his congregation of about 100 an alternate place of worship and that supporters had organized a demonstration for Tuesday.
Still, he urged Swedes, and Europeans, to do more to take a stand against religious intolerance. Still, he urged Swedes, and other Europeans, to do more to take a stand against religious intolerance.
“I don’t think these things are enough,” Mr. Muric, 25, said by telephone from Eslov. “We need to raise the question locally and globally: ‘How do we support religious minorities? How do we prevent them from being a target in society?’ ” “I don’t think these things are enough,” Mr. Muric, 25, said by telephone from Eslov. “We need to raise the question locally and globally: How do we support religious minorities? How do we prevent them from being a target in society?”
An increase in tension has been palpable in recent months, said Mr. Muric, who came to Sweden from Macedonia as a 3-year-old and grew up in Eslov. An increase in tension has been palpable in recent months, said Mr. Muric, who arrived in Sweden from Macedonia as a 3-year-old and grew up in Eslov.
According to Swedish media reports, black swastikas were painted on the front door of a mosque in Stockholm in January, and in December 2013, right-wingers attacked people participating in an antiracism demonstration in a suburb of Stockholm, injuring three people. According to Swedish news media reports, black swastikas were painted on the front door of a mosque in Stockholm in January, and in December 2013, right-wingers attacked people participating in an antiracism demonstration in a suburb of Stockholm, injuring three people.
Muslims have been the apparent targets of crimes in other European cities. Over the summer, arson was suspected in fires at two mosques in the western German city of Bielefeld, as well as at a mosque in the heavily Muslim Kreuzberg district of Berlin.Muslims have been the apparent targets of crimes in other European cities. Over the summer, arson was suspected in fires at two mosques in the western German city of Bielefeld, as well as at a mosque in the heavily Muslim Kreuzberg district of Berlin.
Britain has recorded an increase in the number of religious hate crimes, including anti-Muslim attacks, after the brutal killing of a British soldier by two Muslims in London in May 2013. Britain has recorded an increase in the number of religious hate crimes, including anti-Muslim attacks, after the killing of a British soldier by two Muslims in London in May 2013.