New mosque is planned in Växjö

The foundation Växjö Muslims have plans to build a new mosque in Araby. If they are allowed to do so, they want to construct a building of about 1,000 square meters. It will include a prayer hall, lecture hall and toilets.

The plan is to build the new mosque on Liedbergsgatan, in front of the current mosque barrack. The foundation Växjö Muslims hope to start building within a few years and in such cases the building can be completed around 2025.

– There will be room for 1,000 people at the same time, that is a big difference compared to the barracks, which is 450 square meters large. We have it so crowded in the barracks, the prayer hall is 300 square meters. In the new mosque, the prayer hall will be around 800 square meters and the women will also have room, says the imam Ismail Abuhelal to Lokaltidningen.

A new mosque is estimated to cost between 60 and 80 million Swedish crowns. There is no application for a building permit yet, but the Växjö Muslims Foundation makes drawings and have contacts with Växjö municipality. However, how the building will be financed is uncertain, but there are several alternatives.

– We may be able to get help from rich Arab countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. A Muslim considers it a good thing to help other Muslims build a mosque where there is no mosque, says Ismail Abuhelal to Lokaltidningen.