The right-wing Sweden Democrats (SD) have expanded their online migration map by introducing a new filter showing the locations of mosques and Muslim prayer facilities across Sweden.
The initiative is intended to provide the public greater with insight into the growth of Islam in the country.
According to SD MEP Charlie Weimers, the new feature identifies 238 mosques and prayer venues, together with information on their religious affiliation and, where known, sources of funding.
The data has been compiled using public registers, maps, and information gathered through a nationwide volunteer effort.
Weimers stressed that the map is not intended to provide a definitive count of Sweden’s mosques, but rather an illustrative overview. He said the project would continue to be expanded and invited members of the public to submit information, particularly regarding mosque financing.
The mosque filter is the latest addition to Weimers’ ‘Migration Map’ website, which already includes information on Sweden’s no-go zones and the proportion of residents with a foreign background.
Explaining why the mosque data was incorporated into the existing platform rather than published separately, Weimers argued that migration and the establishment of mosques are closely connected.
He said Sweden is undergoing a process of Islamisation and argued that citizens should consider whether the continued growth in the number of mosques benefits the country.
He said that many larger mosques support restrictions on freedom of expression and expressed concern over foreign funding.
It is dangerous that states such as Qatar, Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia finance Swedish mosques. There are forces that want to introduce Sharia law in Sweden and we must be able to say stop.
He rejected suggestions that publishing the map could expose Muslim congregations to increased security risks. Weimers said he had confidence in both the Swedish public and the police to handle any potential threats responsibly.
A few months ago, Weimers submitted a motion in the European Parliament calling for a halt to the construction of new mosques, arguing that authorities should take stronger action against institutions linked to radicalisation and foreign influence.
Weimers has pointed to examples of imams in Sweden preaching about “how men should beat their wives” and mosques in Brussels functioning as “recruitment centre[s] for Islamic State fighters.”
Sweden has experienced a sharp increase in the number of mosques over recent decades. While no official register exists, the Swedish Agency for Support to Religious Communities estimated last year that there are around 300 mosques nationwide, though the true figure may be higher because many prayer facilities operate outside formal registration systems.
