World Assembly of Shia Studies Slams Sweden’s Move against Islamic Center
Ayat Peyman, the secretary of the assembly, wrote an open letter to the Swedish Ambassador to Iran after the European country accused the Imam Ali (AS) Islamic Centre in Stockholm of being used by Iran for intelligence gathering and activities, an allegation Tehran has vehemently rejected.
The center’s imam, Hojat-ol-Islam Mohsen Hakim Elahi, has also been arrested and is facing deportation from Sweden, according to Swedish media reports.
The newspaper Expressen has reported that he is being held in a Swedish Migration Board detention center.
In his letter, Peyman wrote, “With deep regret and concern, we have received the news of the arrest, unfounded accusations, and deportation order of the imam and director of the Imam Ali (AS) Islamic Center in Stockholm. This move, which is clearly in contradiction with the principles of religious freedom and fundamental human rights, is a serious blow to the right to freedom of religion and the practice of religious rituals for the Muslim community in Sweden.”
He added that the Imam Ali (AS) Islamic Center is one of the key religious and cultural institutions for Muslims in Sweden, consistently playing a positive role in social cohesion, promoting tolerance, and strengthening human and spiritual values.
“The unjust and politically motivated treatment of the center’s officials not only violates the civil and religious rights of Swedish Muslims but also presents a concerning image of the restrictions imposed on religious minorities in a country that claims to uphold human rights,” he stated.
Peyman described Hojat-ol-Islam Hakim Elahi as a moderate, unity-oriented, and peace-seeking cleric who has played a constructive and positive role in the convergence and consensus of Islamic communities with other religions and sects.
Read More:
“Over the past two decades, he has advocated for logical coexistence and interaction with Scandinavian and European governments and nations. The baseless accusations against him and those directed at the Imam Ali (AS) Center by the Swedish government are far from the truth and constitute unjust and inhumane slanders, contradicting the European Union’s claims of freedom of expression and human rights,” he added.
“We strongly condemn this action and expect the Swedish government to reconsider the decisions made and take serious and responsible steps to address this blatant injustice and respect the rights of religious minorities. We also call on human rights organizations and international bodies defending freedom of religion and belief to intervene in this matter and prevent the continuation of such discriminatory actions,” the letter read.
“We are waiting for an official response and convincing explanations from the Swedish government in this regard.”
4264695
