The mosque in Växjö opens just in time for Ramadan - but sticks to the pandemic law

The holy fasting month of Ramadan begins today, April 13.

Usually the mosque is full of visitors, but due to the pandemic, the parish in Växjö has been forced to stay closed for a whole year.

- It is very sad but people understand, says Imam Ismail Abu Helal.

But now it looks like the mosque will be able to reopen, slowly but surely.

The board of

has been in contact with the County Administrative Board about what rules will apply in the mosque.

- If we have an organized prayer, we can be eight people, but if it is unorganized, more people can come in, says Avdi Islami, board member and deputy principal at Växjö Islamic School.

"The authorities know best"

The issue of restrictoines in shrines, such as churches and mosques, has been hot.

Most recently yesterday, SVT reported on the priest in Göteryd who deliberately chose to break the pandemic law, and justified it by saying that the pandemic law is contrary to religious freedom.

But when Ismail Abu Helal is asked how he views this, he quickly replies that he trusts the authorities to know best.

- I do not think the pandemic law goes against the constitution.

According to our religion, which obliges us to go to the mosque and pray, it is about saving lives in the first place, says Ismail Abu Helal.