A mosque in Hultsfred, originally a Christian mission house, was destroyed in a fire. No injuries were reported, but an arson investigation is underway. The mosque served as a community hub for local Muslims, offering educational and integration programs.
Mosque in Hultsfred Destroyed by Fire: Investigation Launched
Mosque Destroyed by Fire in Hultsfred – Once a Christian Mission House
Kotaiba Kholi helped establish the mosque in Hultsfred 23 years ago. Now, it has been completely destroyed by a fire. "It feels very sad," he says.
The mosque was housed in a building that previously served as a Christian mission house and still bore traces of its Christian history. For the past 23 years, the building has been a place where Muslims in Hultsfred could gather and pray.
"Initially, it was a basement space where people met for Friday prayers. But it became a meeting place for everyone," says Kotaiba Kholi, a member of the association that runs the mosque.
In the early hours of Tuesday, just after 2 AM, he received a phone call from the emergency services. They informed him that the mosque had burned down and could not be saved.
"It feels very sad that it is destroyed, as it is difficult to restore to its original state."
Arson Investigation Launched
No one was injured in the fire, and the emergency services managed to prevent the fire from spreading.
"While it is sad, we are grateful that no one was hurt," says Kotaiba Kholi.
The police have launched an arson investigation, which is common when the cause of a fire is unclear. No arrests have been made.
Now, Kotaiba Kholi hopes to find a new location.
"Through the mosque, we have been able to inspire many young people to take a better path in life through education. We have provided homework help, organized study visits to Linnaeus University, and had several integration projects."