Nadine Osman
Around 100 motorcyclists disrupted Friday prayers outside the Kaunas Mosque in Lithuania on September 11, revving their engines, playing loud music and chanting “Lithuania”. A pig’s head was brought to the scene after prayers began, prompting police to open administrative proceedings and assess whether the incident could constitute incitement of hatred.
The bikers began gathering at around 12:30pm in Ramybės Park, outside the historic mosque, as Muslims attended Friday prayers. The mosque serves Lithuania’s small but longstanding Muslim community, including the indigenous Lipka Tatars, whose presence dates back centuries. Video footage posted on social media shows the group revving their motorcycles, playing loud music and chanting “Lithuania” as prayers took place.
Several police crews were deployed to prevent the situation from escalating, but no physical clashes were reported.
A Muslim community member living nearby described the incident as “shocking”, saying: “People come here to pray, pray and leave.” She said similar incidents around the mosque had become more frequent, but described Friday’s gathering as the largest so far.
Local outlet Kas vyksta Kaune reported that the pig’s head was brought to the area after prayers had begun. Bikers interviewed at the scene denied that their gathering was intended to convey a specific message, with one saying he had stopped after seeing other motorcyclists gathered nearby.
Police opened administrative proceedings over possible breaches of requirements governing assemblies and other events. Officers are also clarifying the circumstances under a provision concerning incitement of hatred against a group of people.
Kaunas County police spokeswoman Odeta Vaitkevičienė said the latter was “only clarification of circumstances, not a pre-trial investigation”.
Muslims leaving the mosque after Friday prayers later responded to the bikers’ chants by chanting “Allahu Akbar”, according to Lithuanian media. The groups subsequently dispersed without physical confrontation.
The confrontation follows tensions surrounding the mosque that began earlier this summer.
In June, the Kaunas Mosque administration asked visitors not to openly display intimate physical affection on its premises and urged people to respect the religious purpose of the site. The request attracted criticism from some politicians and members of the public.
On July 6, protesters held a “Kissing Day” action outside the mosque, kissing and embracing while carrying Lithuanian flags in opposition to the mosque’s request.
The mosque said its appeal followed repeated incidents of behaviour it considered inappropriate around the place of worship. Mufti Aleksandras Beganskas, chairman of the governing board of Lithuania’s Council of Muslim Religious Communities, defended the request.
The Kaunas Mosque’s present brick building was constructed in 1930 and remains one of Lithuania’s historic Islamic places of worship.
